Kurt Nass, Fire Chief
Hadley Township Fire Department, Michigan

“Our first meeting with Spencer was at FDIC in 2018. We were looking for a builder for our front-line pumper. After meeting with them, it was quickly apparent there was something different about the company compared to all the other sales pitches. Spencer was the only company at FDIC (other than Pierce) that was eager to build a midship pumper with identical controls on both sides of the apparatus.

Follow up was quick and the relationship evolved differently than any previous build. The family business actually felt like a family business with customer care that was genuine. Specing the pumper was smooth—the Spencer team offering tweaks that suited our needs better.

During the build, Grant Spencer called me personally regarding a potential improvement to the pump panel that would give us everything we wanted. The kicker was that we would be the first to have the technology installed. IDEX Corporation had purchased the Phantom computer pump interface that was not in production but installed on an old St. Louis ladder. There was only a YouTube video available for reference. There was only a two week window to take advantage of the offer.

Spencer became the first apparatus manufacturer in the world to build a front-line pumper with the SAM System. The pump was featured at the 2019 FDIC Show.

The final build was completed, and we took delivery in July of 2019. The craftsmanship was outstanding and after the sale follow ups were often and appreciated. Like I said, this is a family business that makes you feel like family.

Being the first recipient of the SAM System, there was no instruction manual. The sales rep for IDEX/SAM lived in Wisconsin and was a week from coming to the department. His recommendation was to simply play with it. We had a training meeting and were able to figure it out in minutes. The apparatus went into service that night.

The pumper is now six years old and still (our thoughts) is the best pumper in the world.

In 2022, we began the build of a 3,500 gallon tanker. Spencer was the only consideration. There was an issue with the chassis manufacturer and Grant helped us out with the decision to change brands during the process. We took delivery in June of 2024. We now have two Spencer front-line trucks. Quality is our reason for the return business. Having it a Michigan-made product is the icing on the cake for us. The Spencer family puts their name on the product and the pride shows.

In 2028, we will begin specifications to replace our pumper/rescue. This will complete our front-line fleet—making our department a Spencer department. Our firefighters are proud of our aparatus and feel it may be the best in the world. We feel we can back that up based on continued performance that is consistent. I highly recommend the Spencer brand—in my mind, they are hands down the best!

Jason Conklin, Deputy Chief
Lindsay Volunteer Fire Department, Ohio

“The Lindsey Volunteer Fire Department would highly recommend Spencer Manufacturing for any of your apparatus needs. Their apparatus is a showcase of their outstanding craftsmanship. From the initial design phase to the final delivery of our apparatus, the attention to detail and build quality was exceptional.

The SAM system installed on our new engine from Spencer Manufacturing has significantly enhanced our operational efficiency and crew safety by automating pump controls and streamlining water management tasks. Its intuitive interface has allowed our team to quickly adapt and maintain full control of scene operations with greater confidence. We highly recommend the SAM system to any department looking to modernize their apparatus and improve both performance and safety during critical response situations.

The Spencer team consistently went the extra mile to ensure our specific needs were met, demonstrating a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. It’s clear that Spencer takes great pride in their work, and we are proud to have partnered with a company that stands behind their product and supports their customers every step of the way".

We decided to take a leap of faith and go with it.