FAB Mfg. Co. - FABCO Automotive Corp. - 1918-present - Oakland, California - Emeryville, California - Livermore, California


   

Fabco is a specialty manufacturer which produces several series of one-man-cab forward control trucks with the cab beside the engine, and also a cab-over utility vehicle, though they entered vehicle manufacture with a small series of fire engines built for California Fire Departments before the war.

Smallest of the one-man-cab vehicles is a yard trailer ­spotter, the Fab 151, and there are several models of flat deck trucks with loading area for the entire length of the truck, interrupted only by the one-man cab at the front behind which is a Remy 10,000 lb. hydraulic crane. On these FT models the engine, a Ford gasoline 534-V8, is below the deck and drives through an automatic transmission. This series is made in 4x2 and 6x4 layouts, and is used for handling pipes and power poles up to 45 feet in length. The WT series is a flat top with the engine above the deck and beside the cab, intended for harvesting of agricultural produce with the minimum of plant damage. A 6x6 truck with single tires and 80 in. wide track, the WT is powered by Ford gasoline or Detroit Diesel engines. A combination of 5-speed Clark main and 3-speed Spicer auxiliary transmissions together with 2­speed Fabco transfer case gives a total of 30 forward speeds and 6 in reverse. Lowest speed is one mph, invaluable for harvesting purposes.

The Fabco UV cab-over series was introduced in 1972, and uses a conventional full-width cab and a choice of Ford gasoline or Caterpillar or Detroit Diesels. GVWs range from 27,000 to 56,000 lbs, and the trucks are available in 4x2, 4x4, 6x4 and 6x6 drives. In addition to these complete trucks, FajJco offer 4-wheel-drlve conversions on Ford, GMC and other makes which are particularly used in power line erection.

xxxx

Since 1918, Fabco Automotive has formed a reputation based upon innovative engineering, sophisticated manufacturing, and responsive customer support.

Today, Fabco continues to build on its heritage as a UL Certified QS9000 Tier 1 transportation industry supplier with a broad range of Steer Drive Axles, Transfer Cases, Split Shaft Power Take Offs, and other industry leading specialty products.

Fabco Automotive has moved to a new facility: Fabco Automotive Corporation recently opened a new facility in Livermore, California and moved its entire operation from its old facility in Emeryville, California.

For over 80 years, Fabco has played a significant role in the evolution of All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles. Today, Fabco offers its customers a wide variety of products in addition to the wide array of specially modified AWD trucks it produces each year. These products include liquid transfer pumps, diesel marine engines, fire trucks, agricultural machines, flexible drive couplings and a wide range of transfer cases and steerable drive axles.

Fabco is a business unit of TTI, Inc. The TTI family of companies comprises one of the industries largest suppliers of components and sub-assemblies for on and off-highway medium / heavy-duty trucks as well as transit and school buses. Other TTI business units and affiliate companies include Gunite Corporation, Bostrom Seating, Imperial Group, Brillion Iron Works, Metal Forming Industries, Fuel Systems and Phillips & Temro.

The 208 acre FABCO site was located at 1249 67th Street and was split between Emeryville and Oakland.

The FABCO plant was physically in Emeryville, but bordered on the Oakland City line. The former factory site is now a middle-income housing development.

FABCO is unrelated to the St. Louis-based heavy equipment supplier also called FABCO owned by the Fabick family.

xxxxx

In 1940, Gillig began experimenting with engine locations, and Gillig's very first midship engined transit was born. It was powered by Hall Scott gasoline engines, and was unusual because the engines were placed on their sides, instead of vertically. The chassis for this new model line was supplied by Fabco, and Gillig had of course built the bodies.

 

    For more information please read:

www.fabcoautomotive.com

Walter M.P. McCall & George H. Dammann - American Fire Engines Since 1900

Fred W. Crismon - Fire Engines

Bob Dubbert - Encyclopedia of Canadian Fire Apparatus

Donal M. Baird - A Canadian History of Fire Engines

Phil DaCosta - One Hundred Years of America's Fire Fighting Apparatus

Bill Hass - History of the American Water Towers

Hans Halberstadt - The American Fire Engine

Hans Halberstadt - Fire Engines

T.A. Jacobs - A History of Fire Engines

Matthew Lee - A Pictorial History of the Fire Engine

M.W. Goodman MD - Inventing the American Fire Engine: An Illustrated History of Fire Engine Patents

Consumer's Guide - The Complete Book of Fire Engines: A colorful Review of Today's Fire Apparatus

Sheila Buff - Fire Engines in North America

Sheila Buff - Fire Engines: Motorized Apparatus Since 1900

Neil Wallington - World Encyclopedia of Fire Engines: an illustrated guide to fire trucks around the world

Keith Ryan & Neil Wallington - The Illustrated History of Fire Engines

Paul Barrett - Heavy Rescue Trucks: 1931 - 2000 Photo Gallery

Larry Shapiro - Aerial Fire Trucks

Larry Shapiro - Fighting Fire Trucks

Larry Shapiro - Hooks and Ladders

Larry Shapiro - Pumpers: Workhorse Fire Engines

Donald F. Wood - American Volunteer Fire Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Big City Fire Truck 1900-1950

Donald F. Wood & Wayne Sorensen - Big City Fire Trucks: 1951-1996

Donald F. Wood & Wayne Sorenson - Motorized Fire Apparatus of the West, 1900-1960

Donald F. Wood & Wayne Sorensen - New York City Fire Trucks

Donald F. Wood & Wayne Sorenson - Volunteer & Rural Fire Apparatus Photo Gallery

Kenneth Little - Chicago Fire Department engines: Sixty years of motorized pumpers, 1912-1972

Kenneth Little - Chicago Fire Department hook & ladder tractors, 1914-1971

Ron Jeffers - The apparatus of the Jersey City Fire Department: Yesterday and today

John Rieth - Jersey Shore Fire Apparatus: Classic Thru the 60's

Philip R. Lincoln - Massachusetts fire apparatus: A pictorial Collection

Charles Madderom - Los Angeles City Fire Apparatus: 1953 Through 1999 Photo Archive

George Klass - Fire apparatus: A pictorial history of the Los Angeles Fire Department

John A. Calderone - Wheels of the bravest: A history of FDNY fire apparatus, 1865-1992

Peter Aloisi - Apparatus and fires across America: Featuring former FDNY apparatus

Scott Schimpf - Fire Apparatus of Philadelphia

Harrold Shell - Past and present: A history of Phoenix fire trucks

Leo E. Duliba - Industrial & Private Fire Apparatus: 1925 Through 2001 Photo Archive

G.N. Georgano & G. Marshall Naul - The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles

Albert Mroz - Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks & Commercial Vehicles

Daniel D. Hutchins - Wheels Across America: Carriage Art & Craftsmanship

George W. Green - Special-Use Vehicles: An Illustrated History of Unconventional Cars and Trucks

William T. King - History of the American Steam Fire-Engine

John M. Peckham - Fighting fire with fire: A pictorial volume of steam fire-fighting apparatus

G.N. Georgano & G. Marshall Naul - The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles

Albert Mroz - Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks & Commercial Vehicles

Denis Miller - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trucks and Buses

Tad Burness - American Truck Spotter's Guide, 1920-1970

Tad Burness - American Truck & Bus Spotter's Guide, 1920-1985

Robert M Roll - American trucking: A seventy-five year odyssey

David Jacobs - American Trucks: A photographic essay of American Trucks and Trucking

David Jacobs - American Trucks: More Colour Photographs of Truck & Trucking

John Gunnell - American Work Trucks: A Pictorial History of Commercial Trucks 1900-1994

George W. Green - Special-Use Vehicles: An Illustrated History of Unconventional Cars and Trucks

Daniel D. Hutchins - Wheels Across America: Carriage Art & Craftsmanship

Ronald G. Adams - 100 Years of Semi Trucks

Stan Holtzman - Big Rigs: The Complete History of the American Semi Truck

Stan Holtzman & Jeremy Harris Lipschultz - Classic American Semi Trucks

Stan Holtzman - Semi Truck Color History

Donald F. Wood - American Beer Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Beverage Trucks: Photo Archive

Donald F. Wood - Commercial Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Delivery Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Dump Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Gas & Oil Trucks

Donald F. Wood - Logging Trucks 1915 Through 1970: Photo Archive

Donald F. Wood - New Car Carriers 1910-1998 Photo Album

Donald F. Wood - RVs & Campers 1900-2000: An Illustrated History

Donald F. Wood - Wreckers and Tow Trucks

Gini Rice - Relics of the Road

Gini Rice - Relics of the Road - Impressive International Trucks 1907-1947

Gini Rice - Relics of the Road - Keen Kenworth Trucks - 1915-1955

Richard J. Copello - American Car Haulers

Niels Jansen - Pictorial History of American Trucks

John B. Montville - Refuse Trucks: Photo Archive

Bill Rhodes - Circus and Carnival Trucks 1941-2000: Photo Archive

Howard L. Applegate - Coca-Cola: Its Vehicles in Photographs 1930 Through 1969: Photo Archive

James T. Lenzke & Karen E. O'Brien - Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks: 1896-2000

James K. Wagner - Ford Trucks since 1905

Don Bunn - Dodge Trucks

Fred Crismon - International Trucks

Don Bunn - Encyclopedia of Chevrolet Trucks

 



© 2004 Coachbuilt.com, Inc. | Index | Disclaimer | Privacy