Front Drive Motor Company

The Front Drive Motor Company was an American manufacturer of commercial vehicles founded in 1912 by J. Walter Christie.

[1][2] There was no connection to the Front Drive Motor Company of the same name from Missouri.

[1][2] The first fire trucks produced consisted of motorized axles mounted on the fire brigade's existing motorless steam pumps.

[3] The first model had a 90 hp four-cylinder engine mounted longitudinally above the axle.

The front-wheel drive system was patented by A. Ortengren on 7 November, 1916.