These customer-focused model programs exist to build the Fire Apparatus OEM brands, enhance dealer and customer relationships, and sell real machines.
An Original Idea. TWH Collectibles has been developing its fire and rescue program since 2006. Through its partnership with Oshkosh® Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), the program is a strategic extension of the line of Oshkosh vehicles including the Oshkosh Front Discharge Mixer, Oshkosh HEMTT M985 A2, Oshkosh H-Series™ and P-Series™ airport snow removal trucks, and the Jerr-Dan® Steel Shark 5-Ton Carrier.
The goal of the program is to build exact replicas of Oshkosh Striker® 3000 trucks for several ARFF customers including Indianapolis, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Portugal, Oman, Punta Cana, Vancouver, Toronto, and the US Air Force. The models are created exactly to the job number, right down to the component configurations behind each roll up door.
Further diversifying the program, TWH has also partnered with neighboring Pierce® Manufacturing, another Oshkosh Corporation company. The goal of this program is similar -- to create exact replicas of fire apparatus used by Pierce customers. These models are also being built to the specs of each department.
The first series of models would be Pierce Quantum® Pumpers for Kern County, CA; Henrico County, VA; Honolulu, HI; Seminole County, FL; and San Antonio, TX. Each pumper model is uniquely designed to showcase Pierce’s customized features of the real machine.
The fire and rescue program continues to expand with the recent addition of Seagrave Fire Apparatus. With its headquarters also located near TWH, Seagrave is a company with a rich legacy of over 125 years in fire apparatus manufacturing. With the same focus of exact replication, the program is designed around Seagrave’s tractor-drawn aerials. The first five departments Seagrave has selected for a customized model are New London, CT; Redwood City, CA; Leesburg, VA; Somerville, MA; and Washington D.C.
Unique Purpose. TWH Collectibles, a marketing company specializing in building brands through museum class replicas, is a different kind of company.
First, each program is created for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and designed around a three-fold marketing purpose. TWH’s customer-focused model programs exist to build the Fire Apparatus OEM brands, enhance dealer and customer relationships, and sell real machines.
Second, each model is designed to be an exact machine replica, whether it is a Manitowoc crawler crane or Pierce Quantum Pumper. Many of TWH’s models are created to be used as sales tools -- accurate enough for engineers and sales people to highlight and demonstrate proprietary designs and functionality.
Strategic Programs. TWH’s partnership with each OEM involves contractual licensing for the production, distribution, and marketing of each model. Through these agreements, TWH is required to make available certain quantities of models and special pricing to OEM related groups of people. To further fulfill the marketing goals of the model programs, TWH supports its OEMs at tradeshows, builds model shop e-commerce extensions of each OEM website, warehouses and fulfills OEM model inventory, and designs industry programs to reach the OEM’s desired audience.
Lasting Collectibility. Although TWH’s core focus is its OEM partnerships, the collector market is an important secondary beneficiary of the model programs. TWH Collectibles recognizes that the collectibility of its fire and rescue models is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, a solid, thriving distribution network designed to reach passionate collectors is a vital ingredient in the recipe of success.
In addition to producing fire apparatus models accurate to department specs, TWH Collectibles also limits production on every fire and rescue model to ensure true collectibility. Boxes and literature custom designed for each fire department are included to “tell the department story”, adding value and further enhancing the collector’s experience.
A Look Ahead. The current programs have been developed to expand in future years with new types of fire apparatus across the Oshkosh, Pierce, and Seagrave lines. The immediate future will include the development of the Pierce Velocity™ PUC and 75’ HAL, additional Striker configurations, and a Kern County mechanic truck.
Through purposeful model programs, Oshkosh, Pierce, and Seagrave will continue to offer customers an opportunity to replicate “their truck” with precise detail, sought-after collectibility, and marketed with the unique department experience.
