Fire fighting toys and fine collectibles at the
Fire Museum of Memphis

An exceptional collection of fire service memorabilia, fire engine models and toys will be on display at the Fire Museum of Memphis beginning Saturday December 11 at 9:00 a.m.   The Chief William N. Schwartz Collection of toys and models is the largest and highest quality collection ever seen in the Mid South.   The exhibit will include several hundred toys and models made between 1920 and 2003. Toys and collectibles manufactured by Franklin Mint, Buddy L, Corgi, Solido, Code 3, Tonka, Matchbox, Ertl, and many others will be on view.   Miniature fire apparatus from countries such as Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Holland, France are also included.  There are pumper trucks, engines, Snorkels, ladder trucks, rescue vehicles, tools and appliances made of materials such as wood, cast iron, plastic, and metal. Some are motorized and remote controlled.  Suspended above the exhibit will be a moving fire train carrying fire equipment.

Retired Chief William N. Schwartz of the Ocean Grove, New Jersey Fire Department accumulated this collection from his childhood to his death in 2003 at age 90.  Through the generosity of his family and Sunbelt Fire Apparatus Company, the collection is on exhibit at the Fire Museum of Memphis. Chief Schwartz was a close personal friend of Dick and Bill Adelman of the Memphis Fire Department.  Thanks to the Adelman’s association with the Fire Museum, Chief Schwartz’s family presented his collection to the museum. 

Toys on Fire is the first new exhibit at the Fire Museum since it opened six years ago in October 1998. It will be a wonderland of fire service memorabilia that will bring fantasies to life for all ages.  The exhibit is sponsored by Sunbelt Fire, a fire apparatus distributor in Fairhope, Alabama.