Vehicle Description
Magnificent original Ahrens-Fox CT4 Triple Pumper!� Very rare 1 of
approximately 5 built featuring a massive 935ci Inline 6 cylinder
valve-in-head engine and 6 piston front pump capable of moving
1,000 gallons of water per minute!� Iconic fire trucks built with
precision by the hands of Cincinnati craftsmen and used all over
the world, including Tokyo, Japan!� Known collectively among
enthusiasts as the Rolls-Royce of fire trucks.� Exceedingly rare to
find today, especially in original, operable�condition like this!�
What an outstanding piece of history!! Horse-drawn steam powered
fire pumpers were the standard firefighting apparatus of the late
19th Century, almost all of them using boiler technology patented
by Charles Fox of Cincinnati, Ohio. Chris Ahrens began building
fire apparatus in 1870, forming Ahrens Manufacturing Company in
1875. By 1910 the company had become known as Ahrens-Fox and
continued to build from their Cincinnati, OH facility. In 1919 the
company introduced and patented the first modern
triple-combination, self-propelled pumper. While other
manufacturers used centrifugal or rotary-type pumps, Ahrens-Fox
preferred a 4-cylinder piston pump which was well proven in the
field and widely known and accepted by fire departments.
Ahrens-Fox, perhaps reflecting Charles Fox's experience as a fire
fighter in Cincinnati, became known for the high quality of its
apparatus. Their last example was delivered in 1952 to Hope Hose
Company #1 in Tarrytown, New York. We are very proud to present
"Big Lizz", this 1933 Ahrens-Fox C-T-4 triple pumper fire truck!
This timepiece is unrestored and still finished in its original
livery from the Covington fire department! Powered by its original
935ci�Inline 6 making about 210 horsepower with 3-speed manual
transmission, this fire truck makes plenty of torque to run its
1000 gallon per minute 6-piston pumper attached to the front! This
unrestored truck features a lot of features, options and
accessories including Ahrens-Fox emblems throughout, twin primary
pump hoses, two auxiliary hoses, two wooden ladders, cowl lights,
rear wind-up hose bin with reel, Ahrens-Fox step plates, passenger
side spotlight and bell, extra hose, fold down windshield, two
extinguishers (Dayton and Alert), extra nozzle, Y coupler, spear
picks, several storage bins and more! This outstanding unrestored
example was delivered new to the Covington, Kentucky fire
department right across the Ohio River (literally a mile) from
Cincinnati where the truck was assembled. Before being put into
service, the truck was even blessed by a local minister in an
initiation ceremony! This CT4 served a dutiful life, amassing some
7700 miles before being retired. Seeing as most fire trucks have a
substantial value in scrap metal, it is amazing to see a truck as
preserved as this one! It does appear that the main on-board water
tank was removed at some point but almost everything else save some
small accessories remain with the truck. Upon its purchase from an
outstanding collection called the Antique Toy & Firehouse Museum
located�in Bay City, Michigan where is spent the better part of 27
years,�the St. Louis Car Museum�spent several weeks fine tuning the
mechanicals and couldn't be more proud of the results!�A new fuel
pump�& filter, 18 new spark plugs, a new fuel tank and carburetor
adjustment means this truck runs down the road without hiccup, with
smooth power delivery and relatively easy engagement of gears. With
proper timing and throttle, it is even possible to idle down to
about 150 rpm! The truck wears original paint and as a former
rescue vehicle, it will show spots of flaking in some spots but
holds a wonderful patina that could tell�a thousand�stories of life
saving encounters!� As a matter of fact, this particular example
when brand new�was said to have been blessed by a Bishop�from�a
Cincinnati Catholic Church�prior to its departure to the
Covington,�KY firehouse, literally just miles outside of downtown
Cincinnati. The CT4 was certainly among the�largest and�most
significantly capable�fire trucks ever made�to come out of
Ahrens-Fox's doors. �As such, it represents a unique opportunity to
own one of what may be only�a few surviving�1933 CT4s�models ever
built�let alone�in existence! We know of only one other located�in
the Baltimore Fire Museum.� We would invite any interested parties
to call with additional questions on Big Lizz and look forward to
working with the next owner! Thanks for looking!