1958 F.W.D.

This is what happened last year when all the BMT guys sat together.

NO let Ron bring the Mack- between that and the FWD we will "classy the place up" a bit.

I remember when Wawa ran R-models and switched to (gasp!) aardvarks.

Ron, myself and my pop will be there and I know Bob Gabrick will be there also. Anyone else going????

The "running at night" thing is a myth- well, sort of..... You have to have FMVSS approved lighting. In order to prove that your lighting is FMVSS compliant, you have to get a Pa State Inspection every year. This is a hassle for some, for others it is no big deal. When I first got my 1958 FWD, and tagged it as an antique, the Commonwealth of Pa did not tell me anything about when or when I could not operate the truck. However my first insurance carrier was Met Life- through Condon and Skelly in Maple Shade, NJ. They advised I could not run it between dusk and dawn, period. No bargaining because of lights or otherwise. Dusk to dawn, Period. Also I could not exceed 2500 miles in one year. I think in the 12 years that I have had the truck the biggest year for mileage was 600; so that's not an issue. My new carrier never said anything. I rarely (if ever?) run it at night. Check with JC Taylor in Upper Darby. I switched to them after Condon and Skelly left a bitter taste in my mouth when they switched underwriters without telling me, but I know folks who still use and like them. Be careful using your current "everyday driver" carrier- many of them cannot even touch the prices the specialty guys can offer you. Just out of curiosity I checked with my everyday carrier (one of the "big guys") to see about getting a package discount and nearly choked when my agent told me their price. Said "thanks but hell no thanks." And yes the others are correct- in Pa if registered, tagged and insured as an antique, you may NOT operate it "within commerce." Nor do you need a CDL to drive it, either. You must, however have the proper endorsement on your non-CDL to operate it if it exceeds 26,001 lbs.

I posted on my Facebook the other day "343 PLUS people, 343 PLUS." several came back with question marks. Remember the 343 firefighters who died, plus the NYPD and the Port Authority Cops who gave their lives on 9/11. But the "PLUS" too.....The hundreds, if not thousands of cops, firemen and construction workers who have contracted various cancers and diseases- mostly respiratory related....Who have also died since 9/11 and continue to die every day. The gentleman that Paul mentioned above- Ray Pfeifer, is an FDNY Fireman, who has stage 4 bone cancer, which was contracted as a result of him being involved in the recovery effort.

Paul- yes someone sent that to me. He bought a Harley Trike at the beginning of this spring, and he's been spending a lot of time on that. But I am sure he will remember he has a firetruck eventually. Both he and his brother have a hard time driving it with their various ailments, so Im sure he will want to go with the conversion. He is a fine human being, a King among men.

Never forget? I was on the pile. Not for long, but I was there. I can still taste the air in my mouth- a mix of concrete dust, ash, smoke and......death. Does death have a taste? I'm not sure but if it does, it was there. I remember the sounds. Men shouting, shovels clanking against debris, pails being passed back and forth as men grunted, fire department portable radios cracking with messages, construction equipment, honking, and occasionally......an eerie silence, like in the Omaha Beach scenes in the movie "Saving Private Ryan". I talk freely about losing friends and brothers there a lot, but I rarely talk about having been there. But occasionally I think it's important to talk about it. How CAN I forget? I WANT to forget, but I cannot. It is my duty as a brother to remember the fallen, and it is my duty as an American to never forget those innocents who lost their lives. In loving memory of my friends: -Captain Patrick "Paddy" Brown, Ladder Co. 3 -Battalion Chief Raymond Downey, Special Operations Command -Firefighter Patrick O'Keefe, Rescue Company 1 -Firefighter Joseph Spor, Rescue Company 3

if it's not leaking you better add oil.

Need measurements please- highest point (looks like the stack) Furthest point in front to furthest point in rear (tip of frame rails?) I have tight quarters. May consider tossing an offer if it will fit inside. And does it get along with F.W.D.'s?? Have you had it on the highway? Whats the top comfortable speed? How many miles on it, and do you have any service records? How about the Mack factory records?

Detroits have an oil pan?

That Wawa's been there for about 2 years now!!! My parents live right down the street off of Philmont Avenue. My father was salivating when it was being built- he could walk to get his coffee instead of driving to Byberry/Philmont. LOL

Took the FWD to the Lehigh Valley "Cars and Coffee" meet today which was held at the Steelstacks event center at what is left of the old Bethlehem Steel plant. Here's a pic of the Mistress with Blast Furnaces A,B,C & D in the background. From what I understand at the time they were shut down in 1995, they were the largest and longest operating basic oxygen furnaces in the world. The steel for so, so many american industrial landmarks came out of this facility- virtually every high rise building built in NYC between 1930 and 1980 came out of Bethlehem. Most, if not all of the canons used by the Union Army during the Civil War came out of Bethlehem. Kind of eerie to think that maybe the steel used to build the FWD may have come from here. The event was very nice- about 200-300 cars, everything from high dollar European and Italian exotics to classic American Muscle to souped up hot rods and customs to rice burners on steroids. But one thing was common throughout the show- everyone's appreciation of each other's machinery and the hobby of automobiles. I was the only truck that showed up and I got a lot of attention, many folks said "Hey thanks for coming! Never had a firetruck before!"

Yup. Firetrucks are usually pretty low mileage. However the road mileage usually does not include pump hours. But thats not all that much more either. If it has a 671 then it might have value as a boat anchor.

They usually don't get much more than scrap value. Firetrucks just dont have much of a resale value unless they are cherry, are rare or the buyer really wants it badly.

The Fiyatruck is a 900 Series American Lafrance

I knew I smelled smoke????

Not to piss in your wheaties, but you better do some checking, I have heard from several different sources (all of whom I consider reliable) that it is sitting outside at Rob's Towing, this was as recent as a month ago.

But who's going to babysit Small and Extra Small????

Pardon the pun but this was pretty cool to watch!!!!

Insert pole jokes here? I don't get it?

Joemac if you want me to go down there with you one day to take a peek let me know. My schedule is kinda limited though, would need at LEAST a week's notice and even then no guarantees. I agree with everyone else- 2500-4000 tops, depending on condition. By the way did I hear a rumor the other day that it's currently sitting outside at Rob's Towing?

In the interest of maintaining marital peace among everyone, perhaps I shall look into setting something at the Fogelsville Inn or someplace else suitable......I'll let you guys decide.

Vinny.....You do know that if you upload your pics into your computer, then run them through your photo editor, turn them and then save them, you can upload em right into here and they'll appear correctly, right? Oh, wait.....my bad.....You can turn the pics all you want, its still gonna appear lopsided......

Larry bring the dragster, that should cut down the travel time a bit............Denny I will keep you appraised of any Friday night gatherings.