FWD APPARATUS

Four Wheel Drive Apparatus

The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive (FWD), was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company. The success of the four-wheel drive in early military tests prompted the company to switch from cars to trucks. In 1963, FWD acquired Seagrave Fire Apparatus who then moved from their old location in Columbus, Ohio, to their current location at FWD in Clintonville, Wisconsin. Many tower ladders in the 1990s using Seagrave chassis were branded as FWD. They used Baker Aerialscopes for the boom which FWD had also acquired over the years along with Almonte Fire Trucks.

Paterson placed its first FWD apparatus order in 1950 when they ordered a 6-cylinder pumper for Engine Company 12 and the first non-Ahrens Fox aerial truck since 1929. Engine 12 had received a new Mack pumper in 1948, but the hills in their area were tough to climb and the department ordered the powerful FWD.

Dayspring Collection

December 26, 1951: The 1951 FWD Waukesha, Model 145 GKB 6 Cylinder 1000 GPM pumper arrived for use at Engine Company 12 and their Mack was sent to Engine Company 1 at 115 Van Houten Street. The nameplate on the apparatus list James Kennedy as the acting chief (Chief Troy had died in 1951). Photo below is in bay at Headquarters at 115 Van Houten Street when apparatus arrived and before a "12" was painted on the door. Also in photo is FF William Comer in driver seat and Chief Strathearn and BC Joe Bray

Apparatus dedication plaque

Dayspring Collection

On apron at 36 Circle Avenue Firehouse - courtesy Jim Eifler

Drafting/Pumping Drill at Westside Park - courtesy Jim Eifler

Firefighters at the pump panel inside the firehouse

E12 FWD In quarters 1968 (before riot roof ordered)

Pre 1968 photo without riot roof

Below is a post 1968 view, after the plywood riot roof had been added.

Captain Frank Malzone photo

Men of E12 - side view of apparatus 1954

Views after being sold

October 1950: Specifications for FWD 85 foot aerial truck

Dayspring Collection

May 20, 1952: FWD letter re delivery of the aerial truck

Dayspring Collection

July 11 1952: A 1952 model 85' FWD hook and ladder truck (had both an FWD tractor and aerial) which had been ordered in 1950 was finally put in service as Truck 2 at Headquarters on Van Houten Street. Its model number was Model FA85K. In the following year it was transferred to Truck Company 1 at the 23rd Avenue firehouse. Later on it would also serve as Truck Company 3. This is Paterson's first aerial that had a windshield for the tillerman.

July 12 Paterson News

Drill photos - Notice door not yet numbered

Overhead view

Valley of the Rocks - Courtesy Jim Eifler

September 5, 1952: The new FWD aerial has not been put into service, due to an unsafe sway in the fly-ladder and is being quartered at Jackson Street Firehouse

Paterson Evening News

September 16, 1952: Aerial ladder unstable and FWD has to repair before city will pay for it

Paterson Evening News

New FWD at left and 1932 Ahrens Fox at right

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 12, 1953: FWD aerial of Truck 2 aerial, originally damaged during delivery to Paterson in 1952 sent back to Wisconsin for repair

Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 21, 1953: Issues with the FWD aerial corrected at manufacturers WI plant

Morning Call - courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 11, 1954: Truck Company 1 received a new 1954 FWD tractor (Serial # 8042) which was attached to its Ahrens Fox Aerial (Serial # 2047). Also on that date Truck 3's original 1932 Ahrens Fox tractor was replaced with a 1954 FWD Tractor (Serial # 8041): the aerial remained Ahrens Fox serial 2059. But very soon thereafter on June 11, 1954 the tractor was damaged in a collision with Engine Company 12's 1951 FWD pumper. The old (1932) Ahrens Fox Tractor was reattached to the Fox aerial. On November 12, 1954 FWD Tractor (#8041) and Fox Aerial (#2059) returned to service.

December 20, 1954: The FWD aerial (Model FA85K) was sent to Truck Company 1 on 23rd Avenue. Truck Company 2 received an aerial truck consisting of a new 1954 FWD Tractor (Serial #8042) attached to Paterson's 1932 Ahrens Fox aerial (#2058). The 1954 tractor is seen below on right and the 1952 tractor on the left. The most prominent visible distinction is the "FWD" emblem below the radiator on the 1954 cab and the chrome bumper strips on the "52.". The 1954 models had red flasher lights at upper corners of windshield. Grill louver pattern also differs between the '52 and '54 models.

1952 Cab

1954 Cab

The 1951 FWD cab and aerial (Model FA85K) as Truck 1 at 23rd Avenue Firehouse (shared with Engine Company 13)

The scene below is 1956 School 24 fire. Truck Co 3 (1954 FWD cab (8041) with Ahrens Fox aerial (2059) is at bottom in foreground and Truck 1 FWD (tractor and raised aerial) at the top. On the ladder is Angelo Contini and unknown uniformed officer above him.

1954: FWD Tractor (Serial 8042) attached to the 1932 Ahrens Fox 85' aerial (2058)

Backing into bay at Headquarters (115 Van Houten Street)

Captain Frank Coppo in White Shirt

FF Dan Down in Tiller seat in bay at headquarters

1954 FWD Cab of Truck 2 at Central Fire Headquartyers - L-R: FF Dan Dowd, Thomas Hanenberg, Captain Harold Kane and Al "Ollie" Gallagher

1954: FWD Tractor (Serial 8041) and Ahrens Fox 75' Aerial Trailer (Serial 2059)

Fire scene 1960 - This apparatus incinerated in 1963 Franklin Street Fire

Truck 3 with 1954 FWD cab (8042) and FWD aerial (Model FA85K)

View of FWD cab as Truck 1 in 1967 (Lakeview FH)

Partial view of side of FWD cab as Truck 1 in 1967 (Lakeview FH)

At Riverside Firehouse - Truck Co 3 1954 Cab and 1952 tillered aerial - Photo by Tom Dayspring

Circa 1970: Spare FWD Aerial (labeled as Truck 3) FWD Aerial (labeled as Truck 3) operating as Truck 2 - Tour 4 Driver Tommy Coppo, Captain James Kehoe, Joe Parkin Sr., Rich Hoffman, and Tillerman Ray Cusack at Van Houten Street Headquarters. Apparatus was a 1954 FWD tractor and 1952 FWD aerial trailer

Unknown Fire Scene - Marchese collection

1954 Cab and 1952 tillered 85' aerial

At Lakeview Firehouse - 1954 Cab and 1951 85' tillered aerial

Front bumper painted silver

1954 FWD Tractor and 1952 FWD Trailer across from Southside FH

1954 FWD Tractor and 1951 FWD Trailer across from Southside FH

1954 FWD Tractor and 1952 FWD Trailer backing into bay at Southside FH

EMT meeting at Southside where the tiller seat is visible. Bob Wagner on apparatus & EMT Pat Wright at front

Truck 3 with 1954 FWD cab (8042) and FWD aerial (Model FA85K)

As Truck Company 3

A 1977 photo the 1954 FWD cab

Natoli Collection

A 1977 photo the 1954 FWD cab & 1952 aerial

Paterson's FWD aerials had several accidents

June 11, 1954: E12 at left and FWD cab #8041 with Ahrens Fox aerial at right

October 1963 (FWD cab Model 8041)

January 7, 1969

Truck 1 Aerial raised 1968 4th Alarm Park Avenue Fire

As a spare parked at Southside FH Alan Crawford photo circa 1972

After retirement the FWD aerial (Model FA85K) with a 1954 FWD cab (#8042) was purchased by a Buffalo, NY collector. Ultimately wound up in LaFrance Museum in Erie.

August 15, 1957: Five new FWD pumpers ordered

Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison

From Paterson News

August 15 News courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 3, 1958: PFD accepted delivery, from Matcha Machinery of Rockaway, of 5 new 1957 FWD Special (Model S) 1000 GPM pumpers, aligned outside Fire Headquarters. In the news clip, Chief Hobart Strathearn is seen with Fire and Police Commissioners. The apparatus were assigned to and entered service at: Engine 1 (D80294) at Headquarters on January 22, Engine 3 (D80292) at 176 12th Avenue on January 23, Engine 4 (D80293) at 162 Slater Street on January 23, Engine 5 (D80291) at Headquarters on January 22 and Engine 6 (D80295)) at 476 Market Street on January 23, 1958. Ultimately these pumpers saw service in many different Engine Companies (all except Engine 7). Riot roofs made of plywood were added to all in 1968.

January 21, 1958

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

Engine 1 on Van Houten Street

Engine 5 in bay at Central Headquarters

Engine 5 - FF Charles S Walker kneeling & FF Art Nardin in center and Joe Daly Jr at left

Engine 5 - Charles S Walker driving and Art Nardin walking

Engine 5 backing into Headquarters Driver is F/F Charles S Walker

At 115 Van Houten Street - Engine Company 5 (serial D80291) - pre 1968 photo

Men of Engine 1 with FWD pumper 1968 Ball Book (serial D80294)

Engine 1 at Market & Clark St fire 1968

~ 1968-69 Engine 1 outside of Van Houten Street quarters (Malzone photo enhanced by Alan Crawford)

Men of Engine Company 3 with FWD (serial D80292)

Driver Joseph Parkin Sr. & FF Rich Tullo

E3 at 12th Avenue 4 alarm fire

Men of Engine 5 with FWD pumper 1968 Ball Book (serial D80291)

Men of Engine 6 with FWD pumper inside Market Street Firehouse

Engine 4 at Main Street Fire

Engine Company 1 (serial D80294) in post 1968 photo

Pump Panel

Rear Step

A post 1968 fire scene of Engine Company 4 FWD (D80293) at fire (Note 1964 Pittman Snorkel on FWD chassis to the rear)

Engine 5, F/F Frank Malzone March 1967

Engine 5 March 1967

Engine 6 at Market Street Firehouse (D80295)

Engine 6 after accident

Engine Company 2 at 77 Highland Street Firehouse (serial D80293: former E4 - Post 1971 photo

Engine 2 - Photo by Joe Hloucek

Engine 6 FWD leaving Market Street quarters

Engine 6 at fire scene - FF in front is Rich Earner of Engine 10 - Malzone photo

Engine Company 6 in 1968 at City Hall - FF John Daly, Captain George Stanton, FF Tom Bolen - Lacatena photo

Engine Compay 8 Hlllcrest Frehouse (serial D81295): former E6

Engine 8 at Hillcrest circa 1972

Rear view of Engine 8 FWD at Hillcrest Firehouse - Vince Marchese photo

Engine Company 9 Southside Firehouse (serial D80293): former E4 & E2

Unknown fire scene of FWD D80293

Engine Company 10 at 198 17th Avenue Firehouse (serial D80291): former E5

Engine Company 10

Engine 10

Engine Company 11 at fire (serial D80294): former E1

FF Eddie Hunt. parked on Redwood Ave -- Front license plate is celebrating 1976 Centennial Plate -- Vince Marchese Photo

Engine Company 11 (serial D80294): former E1 at Newark FD parade

Engine 11 (serial D80294) at Newark FD parade - Dayspring Photo

E 11 during the Newark Parade - E McGuire driving... R McGuire in hose Bed and T. Kirwin in the Captains seat.

F/Fs E McGuire, R McGuire and T. Kirwin

View of hosebed

At Lakeview Firehouse (serial D80294): former E1 F/F A Credidio driving

At Lakeview Firehouse (serial D80294): former E1

At Lakeview Firehouse (serial D80294): former E1 FF William Shortell

A very frozen 1957 frozen pumper - ? company - perhaps the December 1968 Midtown Hotel fire on Park Avenue - the presence of riot roof dates it to winter of 1968 or thereafter