1958 F.W.D.

Wait till you discover girls, especially redheads. "U model? whats a u model?"

Olive: back then they were the Caddy, or Mercedes-Benz of firetrucks, built like brick shithouses with pride and love. They built their own engines, drivelines, pumps, bodies, etc and everything was QUALITY. There are many stories of AF's that have pumped water onto huge conflagrations for days on end with refuelings and occasional shut-downs to check oil levels. Nowadays they are highly sought as they are pretty rare. Anyone who finds one though better have deep pockets, due to the fact that they built all their own parts, which of course are now hard to find. AF's were known world-wide for their polished chrome "Pressure Equalization Sphere"or the "giant chrome ball." Due to the physics of piston pumpers, the hoselines can pulsate as the pistons slam up and down. AF developed and patented the spheres- the water would be first pumped into the sphere, (I am not sure of the physics of how it works) which would absorb the pulses, the water would then go to the separate discharges and into the hoselines.

For you 2-Strokers out there....(with emphasis on "strokers") here is a 1927 AF that had the original straight-8 AF gas engine pulled sometime in the 1950's and replaced with a lawn-boy.

Here is a picture I took at the Fire Museum of Maryland's "Gathering of Ahrens Fox Fire Apparatus" held last May 21, 2011. It was the largest (known) gathering of Ahrens Fox apparatus.

The Ahrens Fox appears to be about a 1922-1924 maybe an R-K-4. Agreed, yes they were certainly the "caddy" of fire apparatus back in their day. The Tiller is a 700 Series American Lafrance, and the pumper is an Anniversary Series Seagrave.

Son, later in life, when you are a little older and a bit wiser, you will learn what is called "get behind her." Perfect situation for butterfaces. That and turning out the lights.

I can see when this kid hits puberty he's going to want to see sidewinders wearing miniskirts.......

Mike- My Mack expert is puzzled by this number and asked for you to confirm. He stated the "719" is unusual, and he asked if it maybe has an 8V71, as the number 719 may refer to another vendor's power plant. He is not sure, and is double checking.

The Allentown TK is on Lehigh Street just off I78. If you are familiar it is the same exit you would use for the (newly moved) Mack Trucks Museum, located at what used to be Mack's Research & Development Facility near Queen City Airport.

Here is a pic from a few weeks ago, the young man pictured is a friend of mine who is active duty USAF and had just arrived back in the USA from his 2-year hitch in Rheinland-Pfaltz Germany. He stopped in to visit with the wife and I for 2 days while enroute to Malmstrom AFB Montana. This was our welcome home dinner for him. The ladies were all over him when they found out he was active duty and overseas for 2 years.

In memory of the 1,514 souls who perished exactly 100 years ago tonight and the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. The RMS Titanic was due to arrive at pier 59 in New York City but instead met her fate at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in some 12,000+ feet of water approximately 338 miles east of Newfoundland.

Considering it's only 15 mins from the house.....I'll be there!!!! And I strongly suggest The Tilted Kilt for lunch!!!!

Mike give me the SN and I will have my Mack expert translate it.

You know what I did see this, I guess that is a situation where chocks should have been used. But also, the ECO and ECC need to think next time about parkng downhill from a working vehicle fire.

Yeah I sort of agree with this.....I guess its better than rusting away, but the guy has to understand that the "average" firetruck collector will not even be able to begin to think about touching that thing for that price- he may as well call Jay Leno to see if he is interested. Anyone ever see the 1926 International Quad Firetruck that someone butchered into a "Monster Truck?" I'd like to kick that guy in the balls, too.

As an antique firetruck afficianado, I almost cried when I clicked on that eBay link. I personally would like to find the guy and beat the living shit out of him,.

Been in the fire service for 20+ years, have never heard of chocking any vehicle, much less being taught or having done it.....Don't tell me you actually drop chocks on car fires?? No one around here does it.....Never have either that I know of.

I personally carry one 2.5gal AFFF foam extinguisher, and one 30lb ANSUL extinguisher, both of which have current tags as per NFPA 10 as some SPAAMFAA (and other parade/muster judges) require it or award extra points for it. And if my truck is on fire I'm not wasting my time with chocks...lol.....set the brake, put it in gear and put fire out and then commence with the appropriate cussing.

L-Model firetrucks are getting few and far between. And that rear intake is extremely rare- definitely a "City" truck.

Have you tried Harvey Eckert or Cal Little? If not let me know and I can get their numbers for you.

dammit thats the second day in a row the screen got a bath from some iced tea..........

Happy Easter from the Christmas City, Bethlehem Pa. Best regards to everyone. Even the drain bramaged two-stroke lovers.

Friggen smoke-blowing, oil-leaking, loud noisy sumbitch overgrown lawn boys are all that they are. Best looking one I ever saw had a hole in the side of the block. Best sounding ones are the ones going away from me.

I just drag my feet "Flinstones" style

Would you believe me if I told you I typed that without even thinking or with any dirty thoughts????