As this column began to come together in my head, it was a result of the simultaneous collusion of the time of year (lots of Christmas commercials on the tube), my suspicious eying of low gas prices (I doubt that it will last), and a jingle that has been bouncing around in my cranium since 1965 or so ("You can trust your car to the man who wears the star, the big bright Texaco star!").
The end result is today's piece on the Holy Grail of childhood possessions, one that only a few of us were privileged to own (myself not among the elite): the Texaco Fire Truck.
Sadly, there is practically nothing on the web about the history of the greatest gas station promotion ever. But what I did find, I hereby share with you, along with my own personal remembrances of the amazingly wonderful Texaco fire truck.
The fire truck, to the best of my knowledge, could only be obtained at Texaco gas stations. I located an ad for the Texaco tanker, another wonderful promotional toy that I was too young to remember, which stated that you needed to buy eight gallons of gas and fork over $3.98 to get one. I assume that the fire truck, issued in 1964, had the same requirements.
The fact is that $3.98 was a TREMENDOUS amount of money back then. That was a full tank of gas. Not many of our fathers would trivially spring for that sized chunk of change for yet another toy for the ever-begging kid.
Ergo, I never had one. But that didn't stop me from dreaming about them.
There were commercials on during the time showing what the truck would do. Sadly again, I was unable to find any on Youtube. So my memory banks will have to supply the spotty details.
The truck, first of all, was HUGE. It looked like it was four feet long (even though it wasn't, of course). It had flashing lights, or maybe there were just flashing lights on the commercial. The eBay-listed models I found didn't seem to have places for batteries.
But what made the Texaco fire truck magical was its ability to spray REAL WATER.
Seriously, you're a kid who loves fire trucks (redundant statement, after all ALL kids do), and here, presented in glorious black and white, was a commercial for this absolutely bonzer big truck that could actually spray water!
I'm getting excited all over again just writing about it.
So dear in price was the Texaco fire truck that I don't recall any of the neighborhood gang having one, either. But those commercials would be broadcast over and over, and we would all dream.
The company which produced the trucks was called Wen-Mac. They made miniature toys before AMF purchased them in 1959. They continued to exist for a while as a separate brand, but soon faded from sight. The outfit is so obscure that there is no Wikipedia article on them.
Wen-Mac also produced the oil tanker mentioned earlier.
The trucks were durable, as they had to be. After all, a father who did spring for the heady price wanted a toy that would last years, to be handed down to younger siblings.
They were. Many trucks still exist today, according to eBay listings, albeit in "parts only" condition. That is possibly the ultimate compliment to the Texaco fire truck.
You see, when playthings would have plastic parts snapped off, or possibly an axle would have a wheel come loose and summarily disappear, the toy would generally be tossed in the trash. But forty-four-year-old pieces and parts of Texaco fire trucks can still be freely had. Indeed, some listed for sale have been cobbled back into semi-working order by imaginative former owners who "frankensteined" parts from Tonkas or the like in order to produce a model that still was more or less capable of putting out imaginary fires.
So let's all pay homage to the 1964 Texaco fire truck, a vivid memory for Boomer kids. My plastic helmet is off to you.
Comments (17)
I never received on of the coveted trucks either! My dad purchased his gas at an independent station whose promotions were either dishes or cookware. My mother was thrilled.
Posted by Steve Skinner | December 10, 2008 12:12 PM
Posted on December 10, 2008 12:12
I actually did have one of these trucks, and also the fire chief hat in the picture. I was "lucky" enough to have a dad who worked at a Texaco station. The truck has a connector on one side where you can hook up the GARDEN HOSE. This provides an endless stream of water for putting out all of the fires you could imagine.
The fire chief hat has a removable microphone, and the front of the hat where the Texaco emblem is was a loud speaker. This allowed you to bark out commands to the hose operator.
I still have the hat, but the truck is long gone. Great fun, thanks for the memories.
Posted by Dana Miller | December 21, 2008 12:15 PM
Posted on December 21, 2008 12:15
I remember the fire engine well! I did not have one as a kid, but knew others who did! I did buy one at a fire department flea market in Baltimore. I am a long time fireman and collect fire trucks. I had to have the large Texexo pumper! I still have it, but the pump doesn't work and the plastic pieces are deteriating! Still, it is in fair condition! I often find I am buying my childhood again on ebay like many!
Posted by Rivers End | January 1, 2009 6:02 PM
Posted on January 1, 2009 18:02
I still have a Texaco fire truck. The top red light is missing along with the plastic hoses. Two generations of kids played with this truck, but it is still in good condition. It came with a key crank that you would turn to ring the internal bell (no siren). It did not use batteries. It came with a garden hose adapter. One end went to the hose and a the other to one of the plastic hoses that would ride on the hooks on the side of the truck. Then you would push that hose onto the side of the truck. Then water would shoot out the water cannon on top. The only problem was you had to really lower the water pressure so the hose to the truck wouldn't come off. I don't remember the year as I only was a child and all I wanted to do was play with it. My dad brought home two so my brother and I would have one. His didn't survive the seventies. I forgot to mention that it also came with a plastic ladder that hung from the other side of the truck, and 2 water extinguishers that sat on the back bumper. Parts still intact include the water cannon, 2 rolls of hose that sit on top, 4 man helmet rack, and all interior and exterior parts.
Posted by Gary Miller | January 5, 2009 8:17 AM
Posted on January 5, 2009 08:17
A correction to my post. I still have the hose connector, and 2 extinguishers, all 3 ride on the back bumper. A plastic bell that sat between the side seats, is missing as is one headlight, but a siren near the front bumper is still intact. There are markings stamped on the bottom. They say Texaco Antifreeze, Texaco Multigear Lube, Fire Chief Gasoline, Havoline Motor Oil, Marfak Multipurpose. It also has a stamp that it was made by Buddy L in West Moline, IL
Posted by Gary Miller | January 5, 2009 8:46 AM
Posted on January 5, 2009 08:46
I had a Texaco oil tanker. I have yet to see one on the net. Its funny how the babyboomers' toys have become collectors items, partly because of the high quality durable stuff no longer as common, if at all.
Posted by Scott | January 16, 2009 8:02 PM
Posted on January 16, 2009 20:02
I also had the oil tanker. I remember how deliriously happy and lucky I felt when I got it. It seemed huge, and was made to last. That was a long time ago, but I remember it as one of my favorite toys from my days as a happy kid.
Posted by John Gelling | March 5, 2009 3:32 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 15:32
In case any of you who have the fire truck and are missing parts, there's a guy on eBay who carries an assortment of reproduction parts for the old truck. He makes repro parts for a good many other 60s toys as well. They are of excellent quality. His eBay user name is "redvenom", or something close to that.
Posted by Toby | March 6, 2009 7:21 PM
Posted on March 6, 2009 19:21
I have a Wen Mac (AMF)fire engine item #517 complete,never used and in original carton...would like to sell if anyone interested
Posted by Richard | October 5, 2009 9:16 AM
Posted on October 5, 2009 09:16
I have my original 1964 Texaco identical to the pictures above with all the parts except the red light on top. It is mint because I had just turned 14 and my grandparents failed to recognize I was too old for such a toy so I just saved it and it has never been used. I dug it out today and found this article. Cleaned it all up and it's gorgeous. My version never was battery operated with lights or a siren. Perhaps the others mentioned came out the next year. The water didn't connect to a hose like some mentioned but you just ran the little hose to your kitchen sink and it sure would shoot the water just fine--it still does! The extension ladder gives lots of joy. My brother 5 years younger got one that year too and wore his out--I'm glad I have this fine memory of my grandparents now long gone. My memories of them and this firetruck are strong.
Posted by Ron Wade | January 11, 2010 3:43 PM
Posted on January 11, 2010 15:43
To Ron Wade:
Ron! Any chance you could take a digital picture and send it along to Ron here to post or email me with it. I'd love it.
I just saw a really cool firetruck on Gumby on the Moon. I wold have loved to have had that when I was young. Take care.
Posted by Scott Irv | January 12, 2010 12:50 AM
Posted on January 12, 2010 00:50
I was given one as a Child,as my Father worked at a Texaco station at the time.I no longer have it, but did find another one back in 1991 at a Antique store with its original box!The Truck was missing all the usual parts, Hoses, Ladder, Top Dome Light, Siren, and one Fire Ext? I have kept the Truck all these years in hopes of reproduction parts being available,and now they are!! The Truck is getting a complete Restoration, and is currently at the Powder Coaters being sprayed the correct colors. I am also having all the parts re-chromed, and have just recieved the correct Decals. Feel free to contact with pics or info regarding the Wen-mac/Buddy L Texaco Fire Trucks..:-)
Posted by Terry McKnight | January 12, 2010 10:16 AM
Posted on January 12, 2010 10:16
I JUST GOT A TEXACO FIRE CHIEF. ITS IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION! LOOKS LIKE THE ONE ABOVE. I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE PRICE OF THE FIRE TRUCK COULD BE NOW DAYS? TO THOSE GIVING ME SOME INFO ON THIS THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Posted by JR HOERL | March 5, 2010 10:40 AM
Posted on March 5, 2010 10:40
Wow - this page is awesome. I was looking for the extension ladder for one I just bought off of Ebay which is in superb condition and the only thing missing is the extension ladder. My Dad got me one of these for my 9th birthday and I have always wondered what happened to it. We moved alot when we were younger so perhaps it just got lost in the shuffle. My Dad passed a couple years ago and I have been nostalgic for that day he brought me the Texaco Fire Engine and the matching Fire hat and I looked on Ebay last night - and there it was! And it has the original box. It should be here in a few days and I can't wait to relive that wonderful memory. I really have no interest in the hat - but I can't wait to get my hands on that fire engine! It's been a long time.. Thanks for posting up this page. Good info on here and I hope I can find that extension ladder now :o)
Posted by David Lee | April 17, 2010 10:46 PM
Posted on April 17, 2010 22:46
I found the link mentioned previously to the RedVenom guy - the link I posted below takes you directly to the page where this fire engine's replacement parts are available. Hope that makes it easier for you guys with missing parts to be able to "pimp your fire engine". Thanks to the guy that posted the info that led me to this link! I can now get my extension ladder. Sweet!
http://mysite.verizon.net/msn7c0vo/redvenomrepros2005/id16.html
Posted by David Lee | April 17, 2010 11:50 PM
Posted on April 17, 2010 23:50
The youngest of seven, most of my toys were hand-me-downs back in the mid sixties. At 8, my dad retired as the fire chief in the town where I grew up. Dad typically bought gas at the local Sunoco station, but must have seen the Texaco commericials advertising the fire truck, so I think that compelled him to take me, on my birthday no less, to the other local gas station, Texaco. To his dismay, the fire trucks were out of stock, but they had the helmet and one tanker truck. He asked me if I wanted them and so I got both of them. The helmet is gone, but I still have the tanker.
As a late 40 something guy, my hobby is restoring old metal toys. This last Saturday, I found my childhood toy wish from my dad, a 85% complete, in need a paint, the Texaco fire truck. Restoration has begun, stripping, primering and painting starts tomorrow. Oh happy day!
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Joe Weise | May 17, 2010 7:06 PM
Posted on May 17, 2010 19:06
do you know how much the plastic fire chief hat would be worth today? it was made in maybe the late 50's or 60's and it has some kind of microphone on it..
Posted by me! | June 28, 2010 3:32 PM
Posted on June 28, 2010 15:32