Waterous Company

The Waterous Engine Works Company was a builder of industrial steam engines, that began to build steam fire engines in the late 19th century. The company no longer builds complete apparatus but remains a major supplier of fire pumps and other fire department equipment.

History
Waterous' origins go back to 1844 as a manufacturer of industrial steam engines. After buying out his partners Charles Waterous founded the Waterous Engine Works Company in 1877. The new company began to produce steam fire engines and other fire department equipment. In the 1890s the company began to offer horse drawn gasoline powered pumpers which then carried on to the manufacture of motorized pumpers in the early 20th century. In addition to building complete apparatus, they began to sell their pumps and components to other builders. By the late 1920s Waterous had stopped building complete fire apparatus and became a major supplier of fire apparatus components and water handling equipment.