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21/09/2026 10:26 am
Frank Sinatra:
and the Christie Front Drive Motor Company (1912 - 1918). And , over the years, became a punchline for denigrating jokes about the Garden State. It's rebirth over the last decade or so has seen it transformed by gentrification into a hipster's paradise overflowing with bars, restaurants, and condos for all the youth that can't afford Brooklyn, let alone Manhattan.
The Front Drive Motor Company was founded by J. Walter Christie with the idea of motorizing the existing fire brigades motorless steam pumpers with a 4 cylinder 90 HP engine powered front axle. The first to purchase this 1912 Christie Front Drive Steamer was the New York City Fire Department. 600 vehicles with various configurations including transverse mounted engines mounted under the driver's seat were built. As a last gasp for the company, they designed the 1919 Model tank for the Army, but the design was not accepted for production. I really got a kick out of this Franklin Mint model of Christie's first (#1) motorized pumper. The content, fit and finish is just superb.
This topic was modified 4 weeks ago 2 times by Rich Sufficool
22/09/2026 11:36 am
Very interesting. I have this on my eBay watch list and I wondered if it was as detailed as it appears to be. I just purchased two more models and have bids in for two more, so I will put it on the back burner, for this week, but your post has intrigued me and it very well may become an addition to the mix in the near future. Thank you for the additional info.
22/09/2026 9:32 pm
An interesting read, and a neat model. Out of my realm of collecting, but I still appreciate them. 😊
GDH reacted