Thomas L. Herman

Oren Fire Apparatus manufacturing developed as an offshoot of The Roanoke Welding and Equipment Company, a Roanoke, Virginia, based family business founded in 1917, which specialized in welding, fabrication, automotive repair and specialty truck body building.

It was an easy complement to build some small-town light-duty pumpers. These were so well received that by the early 1940s fire engines became the company's principal products. Oren became a favorite of the fire service, and in advertisements proudly proclaimed itself ''The South's Only Fire Truck Manufacturer.''

Carefully selected photos by noted historian Thomas L. Herman create a magnificent photographic history of Oren built rigs, from the early front mount pumpers to the more advanced body designs built on commercial chassis and the famous and awe inspiring ''Custom'' rigs. Also featured, in photos never before published, are the very first aerial ladder built by Oren and the very unusual ''one of a kind'' rigs.

This volume will delight fire apparatus enthusiasts everywhere.