One of the first Ahrens-Foxes to feature the classic era gold-leaf patterns was a 1921 Model J-M-4 piston pumper #990 used in Ahrens-Fox's own hometown of Cincinnati.
Ahrens-Fox introduced the classic Clark steel disk wheels in 1922, but continued to offer wood spoked artillery wheels until 1928. The wood wheels featured much more elborate decorations than the steel type, and tended to be favored by smaller communities. Small towns also tended to have the community name lettered on the toolbox and on the lower rear corners of the hosebed. 1925 Model J-S-4 #1243 on the hydrant at Oakhurst, NJ, illustrates these decorative points. Also note the original diamond-tread tires, which help to dress-up a Fox almost as much as the goldleaf does.
One of the first Ahrens-Fox poiston pumpers to feature the classic Clark steel disk wheels was a 1922 Model K-S-4 #1128 originally demonstrated at the International Association of Fire Engineers convention in San Francisco, CA, and later sold to Long Beach, CA, the first of ten Ahrens-Fox pumpers that would serve Long Beach. After expert restoration by Terry Spahr of Napa, CA, #1128 is now owned by Richard Stacks of San Francisco and displayed at the Long Beach Firefighters Museum.
Details of the factory original stripes and scrolls on the hood, frame, and seat riser of 1925 Ahrens-Fox Model J-S-4 #1242, ex-Washington Court House, OH. Note the alternating rectangles and stripes along the frame, and the gold stripe down the center of the running-board support arm from the frame. (Ed Hass photo)
Authentic recreation of the oginal hosebed stripes and scrolls, on 1923 Ahrens-Fox Model J-S-3 #1223, ex-Long Beach, CA.(Ed Hass photo)
Greenville Fire Company, Scarsdale, NY, owns this restored 1925 Model R-K-4 #1162. Note gold outer stripe, inner white accent stripe, and gold scroll on the seat. Seat riser features gold corner scrolls, gold outer stripes, inner white accent stripes with arrow ends, and gold numeral with traditional Ahrens-Fox double green shading. Also note striping patterns on the tool box, frame, and splash panel angled down to the running-board. (Herb Barber photo)
Greenville Fire Company, Scarsdale, NY, owns this restored 1925 Model R-K-4 #1162. This view shows details on striping on the front fender, hood, and frame. Note the gold stripe down the center of the running-board support arm from the frame. Also note the gold hood lettering with Ahrens-Fox's traditional double green shading (dark green inner shading, light green outer shading). (Herb Barber photo)
This view of 1925 Model R-K-4 #1162 shows the stripes and scrolls on the gasoline tank and booster tank, and on their support bracket. But if you look closely, you can also see the gold stripe and the white accent stripe along the side and rear of the driver's seat. (Herb Barber photo)
Although Ahrens-Fox is best known for its classic piston pumpers, the company also introduced service ladder trucks and tractor-drawn aerial ladder trucks in 1923, and midship-mount rotary gear pumpers in 1925. Beverly Hills, CA, has superbly restored its 1928 Ahrens-Fox rotary gear pumper, Model GN-80-4 #5009. In this model designation, G indicates Gear pump, N is for Ahrens-Fox Model N (5-1/2" x 7") T-head motor, 80 stands for 800 GPM pump capacity, and 4 indicates it is equipped with a booster tank. Note that all body panels are outlined in black edging, and even the hood louvres are black. This was a common practice in the fire service, to hide dents and scratches. Everything seems to have gotten striping, even the tool box, the section of frame behind the front wheels, and the tiny rectangle forward of the serial number plate. On the wheels, a gold stripe outlines the wheel rim and a smaller gold stripe accents the hubcap.
Back end of Beverly Hills 1928 Ahrens-Fox #5009 shows stripes outlining the driver's seat and seat riser, gas tank and its mounting bracket, chassis frame, raer wheels, rear fenders, and even rear booster reel (in the tailboard). A tiny gold diamond stripe accents the air chamber atop the midship-mounted rotary pump. Note that each of the three side panels of the hosebed has balck edging, gold striping, white accent stripes, and gold scrolls in each corner of each panel. All of these decorations painstakingly duplicate the original factory photos of this and other Ahrens-Fox rotary pumpers of this era.