In the 19th century, toy makers made detailed models of the fire-fighting equipment children saw on the streets of their towns. Manufacturers offered early toy pumpers, hose carriages, hook and ladder trucks, patrol wagons, and other vehicles from cast iron, a material used commonly in the United States but not frequently in European countries. The first fire-fighting toys replicated the horse-drawn vehicles of the1800s. In the 20th century, toy makers produced automotive vehicles.
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