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I want to reply, but how do you give a rational response to such an irrational statement. But, (something's are just too easy) based on the pic he probably never learned to ride a bike as a kid and this is his way of getting even with all the other kids who teased him.

Sorry, brain fart; I was thinking B-20, not B-42. They are Mack engines

Maddog 13407 you left out a couple of key words: im thinking a very nice running driving truck.... $8K should buy a pretty nice B model fire truck. $3K is about right for a "fixer upper".

The engine is what makes it a B-20. I would keep it, but I'm a purist. It is a Continental and parts are not all that hard to find.

May it be the best ever! Happy Birthday

A parts truck for the asking price of a very good survivor. What's not to like?

Not sure what is up with Cal. He did not make it to Charleston and his name no longer appears on Mack's list of old parts suppliers. Check with John Chalmers on the Mack list; I understand he has taken over Cal's stuff.

Yep, I plowed a lot of rain that Don Kent forecast in the late 60's. He didn't hype, but he also missed as often as they do now. One of the many things kids miss out on today is the thrill of listening for your town's schools when Carl DeSouze run through the list of 200 plus school districts that shut down for snow on WBZ radio.

This topic comes up often at antique fire truck meets. I think there a lot of factors that make the shows change over time. Not the least is that there a lot more "antiques" than there used to be. When shows were held in the 70's or 80's rigs had to be from the 50's or older to be considered old, now all those rigs from the 70's are in the show. The rigs from the 20's, 30's, and 40's are still around, but they are in a garage somewhere because the owner lost interest or just got too old to get it out. Most of these rigs are not roadworthy enough to drive any distance to a show, so you need to have the means to trailer them, not something everyone can afford. Plus it is hard to keep them running as they get older. I'm re-building a 25 AB now and believe me it is not for the faint of wallet, even if you do the work yourself. I am also having a hard time locating parts, something a 70's era truck owner doesn't have to deal with. Most folks start avidly collecting and showing rigs as they get older, hence they want to own the trucks of their youth. That is why so many 70's rigs are on display these days. Would todays collectors use and display a rig from the 20's? Sure if they could find one the owner would be willing to sell for a fair price, not the full cost of the restoration. As to the future of shows: they will change and evolve as all things do, but the one unchanging thing will be the nature of the people who show their trucks. They will always be the nicest people you can meet anywhere. And for all those folks who love old trucks but cannot afford to get their own; join a local chapter of SPAAMFAA or ATCA and get to know the members. We are always looking for someone to drive a truck to a show for us and would love to have someone show up to help us twist wrenches on our stuff. You get to act like an owner without having to pay for it.

Here we go again; the weather folks are already flopping like a fish on a hot dock. We might get a foot, an inch, or all rain depending on when you listen to the same forecaster. The only sure thing is that the DC area will close down Wednesday evening and not re-open until Monday, even if it doesn't snow. I'll go put the blade on the tractor which is usually the sure fire way to prevent snow in my neck of the woods.

Maxim sold a lot of tiller trucks, as well as being the ladder that Mack used for a very long time. I always thought it was the strongest ladder out there of all of the "old standard" ladders.

Must have seen a hundred power company trucks headed back south on 95 today. I'm guessing things are better?

The ALF I tillered was so crooked when it was fully extended you had to aim for the window next to the one you wanted to climb through. When E-One, Grove, LTI, etc. got in on the act they spoiled us by making the ladders so strong you could actually tell when the climber's knees were shaking.

No better or worse than any of the old aerial ladders. We are spoiled now. At least it is metal, not wood.

Is the tank new to you? If so there is a chance that it is rotted on the bottom and you will have to cut the tank to properly fix that anyway. Drain it and scope it to be sure before you get involved in trying to fix the dent only to find out you need to cut the tank. The real question is whether you intend to keep the tank painted after the repair. If it is steel and you are re-painting any of the suggested methods will work to get the significant damage out of it. When you are done you will still need to fill the rough spots with a body filler and sand everything smooth. Heat will make the steel "remember" where it is supposed to be and may "pop" the large smooth dent out. Apply it in a circular motion around the dent and do not apply enough heat to change the metal's color. You can also try dry ice. Same thing as heat; apply it on the outer edge and try to "shrink" up the metal by cooling it. A little research on the net will show you how to do it. I have also had luck using a toilet plunger to help pull the metal out after heating or cooling it. My philosophy is to do the least damaging methods first and work up to what I consider the fool proof, but most damaging solution. In this case that would be cutting the tank end off, pounding out the dent and re-welding the tank.

Not coming to Charleston Tim?

That would make a great restoration for someone, especially a "petroleum" collector as I'm sure it was a fuel delivery truck converted to a water tanker.

Charlie; Macungie is featuring fire apparatus this year. Time to bring the Mack back home. We had a Q&A with Harvey Eckart, Walt McCall, and Tom Herman at he SPAAMFAA meet last night. Always fun to hear Harvey speak. A lot of Mack discussion as well as much about ALF's demise. Some fun facts from last night: The last open cab made in the US was delivered by ALF in 1982. The last Mack built MB fire truck has been scrapped. The last Mack built CF is in a collector's hands. The last CF chassis is still owned by Yonkers, NY; disposition unknown.

Welcome aboard. I have a friend who is looking for the power steering controller/valve for a mid-60's C cab Ford. Any ideas on where to look?

Anybody else headed to Charleston this week?

The CF from Albemarle, NC has been sitting there on the side of I-95 for several years. One of those cases of the seller thinking it is worth far more than the market can bear. I think there was a price of $8K on it at one time.

The Tidewater N is one of those sad stories in fire truck collector circles. One of five N model fire trucks built by Mack it was cut up to make the pictured box truck.

Thanks; I'll try them. I have all the dimensions; so far no one has been able to match them.

Thanks Jim; been there without luck. I need to find some in the next three weeks or I'll be forced to get new springs made. The upside is I'll have a stock to share; the downside is it will run around $1300 for 150 of each spring.

Mack made the CF chassis until 91 or 92. They stopped building fire bodies in 1989. Someone else had an ALF they converted to a dump on E Bay a while back. Not sure the rears are sprung for that kind of weight.