P.E. Van Pelt Inc.

P.E. Van Pelt Inc., generally known as Van Pelt, was an American fire apparatus manufacturer in Oakdale, California.

History
Dodge Brothers distributor P.E. Van Pelt built his first fire truck in 1923 for the Oakdale Fire Department. The apparatus was a success, and other area fire departments asked for similar units. Van Pelt formed P.E. Van Pelt Inc. as a separate company in 1925. By the 1940s, Van Pelt was the largest fire apparatus manufacturer on the US West Coast. In 1958, aerial trucks equipped with Memco Aerial Ladder Company ladders were introduced, and a custom chassis (the Custom 300) in 1960. The Custom 300 remained in production until 1977. Later customs were offered using a TCM cab, and after 1977, Van Pelt used Pemfab, Duplex and Hendrickson chassis.

In 1978, Van Pelt was purchased by FMC Corporation, but the Van Pelt nameplate continued to appear on trucks built in Oakdale. In 1987, FMC consolidated fire truck production in Florida and the Oakdale plant was closed.