Vintage Cars: inline 8s, pierce arrow, fire trucks

Question
When did they first started building inline 8's and how long did they build them for?

Answer
I can't tell you the exact date they started, but straight-eights certainly date back to before WWI, but after the turn of the century.  The last inline-8s put into regular production vehicles were the 1954 Pontiac and Packard 8s; both switched to their own V8s for 1955.  The Pierce-Arrow straight 8 continued to be manufactured by independent companies for fire trucks well into the 1970's.  Great question, by the way.