Vehicle Description
Popular culture usually credits Henry Ford as the father of the
mass-produced automobile. This statement is only partially true, as
his Model T and moving assembly line would not have been possible
without the foundational elements laid by his colleagues in the
burgeoning automobile industry. Ransom Eli Olds is among the most
important characters in the development of the mass-produced
motorcar. Thanks to the use of interchangeable parts and the
stationary assembly line, his Curved Dash Oldsmobile is the first
true mass-produced car in America. With Henry Leland of Leland &
Faulconer Engineering acting as a consultant, Olds applied the
concept of parts standardization which Leland first observed in the
firearms industry. The ability to build cars quickly and cheaply
allowed Olds Motor Works to become, albeit briefly, America's
top-selling car manufacturer. As Olds Motor Works grew, so did a
rift between management and Ransom Olds over the future direction
of the company. Olds wanted to continue with low-cost automobiles,
while his bosses wanted larger, more luxurious cars. Olds lost the
battle, and control over the company that bore his name. In 1904,
he departed and set up a new company called R.E. Olds, Co. The was
met with protests by his former colleagues, so he changed it to REO
Motor Car Company, and continued his focus on low cost,
conventional cars. REO soon developed a reputation for dependable,
powerful engines and solid construction. The company branched into
the medium-sized truck market, with the REO Motor Truck Company
incorporated in 1910. The popular mid-sized Speed Wagon model
("Speedwagon" after 1930), featured powerful engines and a superior
top speed compared to the competition. The Speed Wagon line
consisted of several different models ranging from a �-ton through
2 �-ton. Outside firms adapted the chassis to create dump trucks,
ambulances, delivery vans, fire engines and virtually any
commercial vehicle imaginable. Contracts with the U.S. Military
meant strong production numbers throughout World War I, with trucks
often outselling cars on an annual basis. As automobile production
faltered in the 1930s, REO truck production remained strong. The
automotive division folded in 1936, however, trucks continued
through 1957 when White took over the firm. With the acquisition of
Diamond T trucks, White briefly revived the name from 1967-1975
with the Diamond-REO line of extreme-duty trucks. With such a
reputation for toughness and performance, it is little surprise
that REO trucks were popular with firefighters. This 1925 REO Speed
Wagon with Foamite-Childs Triple-Combination apparatus is a
fantastic example of the type of medium-duty fire engine that was
popular with smaller towns of the period. Not every city could
afford a mighty, purpose-built Ahrens-Fox or American LaFrance, so
companies like Foamite-Childs of Utica, New York filled the gap
with equipment built to be easily adapted to existing, commercially
available truck chassis. Equipped with a triple-combination
arrangement, this REO would have likely been a hard-working
small-town fire engine. It offered three trucks in one: A hose
cart, water pump, and chemical tank built on a single compact
chassis. This delightful example retains much of its original
equipment, including the copper chemical tank with canisters for
the sodium bicarbonate charge, Dietz King Lanterns, period-correct
ladders, and a Childs extinguisher. This truck is ideally sized for
an enthusiast considering their first fire engine, as well as the
experienced collector wanting a compact fire truck that can be
enjoyed readily on the road. It presents in very good overall
condition, with an honest appeal and well-maintained patina. The
body is in very condition, with pleasing paintwork and extensive,
highly-polished copper and brass fittings. The powerful REO T-Head
inline-four runs exceptionally well, with more than enough grunt to
make easy work of the relatively lightweight body. REO would have
been a popular choice for fire companies of the day, given their
performance and dependable nature. This example drives quite well,
with surprising pep from the T-head engine and respectable road
manners. The engine is honest and unfussy, with black painted
cylinder blocks, and tidy cosmetic presentation. Behind the engine
and 3-speed sliding gearbox sits a Northern Rotary Pump, mounted
below the seat and ahead of the copper chemical tank.
Well-appointed with numerous period-correct accessories and
fittings, this REO/Childs Triple-Combination is a delightful and
highly enjoyable piece of antique fire apparatus history. It's
relatively compact size and strong-running nature make it
well-suited for use in shows, parades, and musters.
