Fire-engine Lilac

“Fire-engine red is the only color tolerated” we said in our tribute to the ornate splendor of nineteenth-century fire-engine panels in the June, 1970, issue (“Inflammatory Art”). Not so, wrote a number of buffs, including R. L. Nailen of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, who says:

Red is in the majority, yes. But the decor of American fire engines actually spans the rainbow, particularly in the East. For example: Winchester, Virginia, equipment is deep green in color—has been for years. At least one fire company in Belmar, New Jersey, prefers buff and gold. Blue and even lilac can be found. … Baltimore and Jersey City have always used white. In my village yellow is the rule.