A little over 10 years ago an import firm known under the name "Upper Deck" flooded both the American and European market with an assortment of fire service themed memorabilia. These items continue to show up for sale at fire flea markets, furniture and collectible stores, and occasionally on eBay.

My first piece was a large late 1920’s French style closed-cab rear mount turntable ladder.  It was complete with outward facing bench seats and the rear mounted token hose reel, so popular with fire apparatus from France, even to this day.  It was found in a Chicago area furniture store.  It had a rough cut of construction of wood and steel, but none the less, it posed an impressive collectible.

In my travels I located a total of six of these large models.  They were built in an approximate scale of the 1/6^th or GI Joe category.   In addition to the Turntable Ladder Truck mentioned earlier, they made a single horse-drawn steamer with a mid-ship mounted hose reel and three seated firemen figures: a combination chemical and ladder truck with three firemen figures; another French style open cab turntable ladder truck with the bench seats facing forward this time; a hand-tub style pumper with front and rear "brakes" with ladders hanging off of each side; and the most difficult to find…an Ahrens Fox open cab front mount piston pump of a design identical to and like the Ertl diecast collectibles. 

The models were finished in a dark red or brownish-maroon color with heavy antique staining splashed abundantly.  Their prices ranged from just over a $100 bill to the upper price of $300 for the steamer, hand-tub, and Ahrens Fox respectively.  They were heavy to hold as real wood and steel construction parts gave the weight factor a serious consideration.   The only suitable place that I displayed my models were directly on the floor or on the lower raised mantle of my fireplace. 

While visiting another furniture store (looking for a small curio cabinet to display more fire collectibles) I encountered a smaller version of the chemical/ladder truck. Of course I quickly brought out my credit card and the little wagon was added to the stable of its big brothers.  Later I saw a small French ladder truck being available on eBay, but I didn’t bid on it as I was starting to fill my house with too many fire engines again.  (Darn…hate when that happens!)  To date, I have not encountered any more of these Upper Deck styled fire apparatus models of their design and manufacturing process.   Some do show up on eBay from time to time and don’t appear to sell that well, and some don’t even get a small bid!   Maybe they are too large for the average fire collector.                                                  

A few other items that Upper Deck shipped over here were a pair of oversized Wooden Fire Buckets in stands.  They looked good, despite their size, and were designed as plant and flower pots.  I secured three of them as I had three house plants that needed to fit in with my fire themed interior house plans.  These buckets were finished in a green and brown tone, and were quite pleasing to the eye.  They adapted well to their domestic surroundings.  The lettering was detailed and of a late 1700’s marking.  They had an interior plastic liner that served as the actual plant holder.  Not much different from what one finds today regarding decorative planters and urns for household use.

A very collectible piece was a fireman’s helmet in red, resting upon a coiled hoseline.   It was a bank with a working music box!  A coin slot  runs alongside the ridge and combs of the helmet.  When you dropped in a coin, the music box would begin playing for approximately 30-45 seconds.  It had a rich embellishment of gold leafing that accented many of the fine and minute features and overall details.  When other firefighters saw the helmet bank, everyone would always ask where they could buy one.  Thus, it is still sought after.

Upper Deck also created a number of shadowbox display cases.  A very large and heavy one appeared with several American LaFrance items re-created in miniature.  There was also a Mack version, but it appeared to be harder to locate.  One could open up this box and place your own photos inside adding a custom touch to its uniqueness.

There were some wall plaques that featured a clock display.  The most popular was the hydrant design.  The Wood Manufacturing Company Hydrant advertisement was painted on the flat surface of this item.  These are still available at several collectible stores and usually command a price around $150.00.

Upper Deck’s work also included a Laurel & Hardy bookend fire engine.  The fire engine was split in two and was of the 1930’s vintage. Very true to these actors’ art form of movie popularity. The design is quite novel and the bookends were also very practical. 

Like anything that comes along, if it’s what you would like to have, get it!  Even though you might think you are impulsive, if you delay, it might not be there when you return.  Several times I have turned around after driving several miles from a store to purchase an item, and was glad that I made that decision.  Especially when you find out later on that only a few of these existed or were even made! 

Upper Deck relied on hand work and individual craftsmen to produce their items. Thus, I believe that their collectibles will become more treasured as time passes since only a limited number were made and exported. I was fortunate to see several of their items at the 2000 Intershutz in Augsburg, Germany and wanted to buy one of everything.  But then I had to come to grips with the fact that I did not have my large pickup truck with me.  I carried enough items on my body in the airplane and across my aching shoulders with my large suitcases in tow. 
                                                                                                                                                Whenever the name Upper Deck is spoken, I do listen up…just might be something special for the fire collection!