Note: Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts apologizes that some sections are currently under construction.
Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts is a non-profit organization for owners and fans of the fire engines & trucks made by Crown Coach Corporation, Los Angeles, Ca. Crown Firecoach was known for building the finest fire equipment on the West Coast. All major Cities were known to have purchased the Crown Engines and Trucks which provided more years of frontline service than any other manufacture. Crown equipment was in Hawaii, Alaska, West Coast to New Jersey, as well as deployed to several foreign countries. We are dedicated to preserving and appreciating the history of the Crown Firecoach.
Historical Archives of the Firecoach Division of the Crown Coach Corporation of Los Angeles We are dedicated to preserving and appreciating the history of the Crown Firecoach.
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In Memorium
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Donald Charles Beckwith, a former President, Vice President and a Charter/Founding Member of the Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts, a long time Crown Firecoach fan and Fire Buff. Among the organizations he was a member of for decades were National SPAAMFAA, International Fire Buff Association, and the Box 15 club. For several years, Don was the proud owner of a 1985 Pierce mini pumper which he brought to many events. Don was a member of the Ontario, California Fire Department for 27 years, starting on October 1, 1970 as a Fire Alarm Operator and promoting up to Communications Director, retiring on December 20, 1997. Born and raised in Stoneham,Massachusetts, Don’s father Charles was a veteran Fire Lieutenant in his hometown who passed down his ethic and appreciation of the fire service. Before joining the Ontario FD, Don served honorably in the United States Air Force as afirefighter and dispatcher. He was an expert on Aircraft Crash Rescue Firefighting Rigs, an avid collector of diecast model firefighting rigs and a respected member of the group Diecast Garage (for nearly 35 years he had the moniker ARFFCoach”as his email and user name on various platforms). Don often manned booths or tables for organizations he supported, from Ontario FD to CFE to Fire Memories Museum, and Don also supported many charitable organizations including Children’s Hospital of L.A.
The First Firecoach Models with Aerial Devices were Produced in 1960 and 1961
(Above) The very first Crown with an aerial device was F-1221, a 50-foot Pittman Snorkel for Elko, NV, in 1960. Built on a International Harvester VCO-190 cab-over-engine chassis with a 2-door, enclosed tilt-cab, it was powered by a IH 549 c.i. V8 gasoline engine and had a 750 gpm Waterous pump and 300 gallon tank.
The second Crown/Snorkel, and the first aerial device on a custom Firecoach chassis, was F-1222, completed in 1961. It was built as a Demo and later sold to Snohomish Co WA (the final fire service owner was Crown Point, IN). It had a 65-foot Snorkel and no pump or tank and was powered by a 935 c.i. (325 h.p.) Hall Scott gasoline engine. In this rare color factory image taken at the time of certification of the boom, the truck had yet to have the ladder racks and ladders added. (Both images from the Crown Firecoach Archives and any reuse requires permission from crownfirecoach@earthlink.net)
Crown Firecoach "Engine 51" Featured on Los Angeles County Fire Museum 2018 Grand Opening Commemorative Coin
The Los Angeles County Fire Museum had a grand opening event on July 14, 2018 for its new two-story, 27,000-square-foot facility in Bellflower, CA. Among the collectable items for sale at the grand opening was this commemorative coin (front and back sides shown) depicting LA County "Engine 51," the 1965 Crown featured on the TV series “Emergency!” There were also coins available depicting "Squad 51" and the Ward LaFrance "Engine 51." All three of the actual vehicles are part of the museum’s collection on display at the new facility. CFE plans to have a meeting at the new museum in the near future.