bulldogboy

If that's The Vermont Country Store in Weston, next time in town stop by the fire department (if anyone's around). They are still running a nice 1976 Mack "R" model pumper. bulldogboy

BDA B125: A Mack "B" model fire engine and Bermuda; it doesn't get any better than that!! I saw the Mack "B" models when I visited Bermuda in 1979; they were still in service. Since that time, Bermuda combined the Hamilton and St. George Fire Brigades into one island wide fire service. St. George had a 1960 Mack "N" model fire engine. Do you know if it is still around? Gotta get back to Bermuda some day soon. bulldogboy

Joe: Congrats on your new Mack. Most Connecticut fire departments take good care of their apparatus so I assume that this engine is in great shape in spite of its age. We haven't heard any news from Yocum Creek in a while; did you get the '87 Mack repaired and back in service? Good luck with the new one. bulldogboy

On page 111 of Harvey Eckart's book, "Mack Fire Apparatus, A Pictorial History", there is a photo of this style Chicago Mack "B85F"/ Magirus ladder truck. According to Mr. Eckart, it is a 1959, 100' ladder, model #B85F-1384. To me, it looks like it has 5 or 6 sections so, perhaps, it is one of the 146 footers. On page 102 of his book, "Mack Fire Trucks, 1911-2005", there are two photos of 1957 Mack "B"/Magirus ladders delivered to Milwaukee, WI Trucks 2 and 18. These have the standard "B" cabs. bulldogboy

According to John Malecky in his book, "Mack Tilt Cab Fire Apparatus" (I seem to quote this book a lot), the window mechanism on the "MC/MR" was not an indicator of the model. Rollup or sliding windows were available on either chassis. My city's "MR" front loader rubbish truck has rollup windows. bulldogboy

Definitely a Maxim chassis. bulldogboy

Nice old "B" model dump doing what it does best. Chrome radiator shell adds class. bulldogboy

Try to avoid Hartford at rush hour; 84 becomes a parking lot. I've driven 90, 84, and 81 many times, other than Hartford at rush hour, not many problems (other than snow in the Poconos, hopefully not a problem this time of year). bulldogboy

OD: Sorry about the passing of your father. It seems like you have fond memories of him; as time goes by you will smile as stories of dad are told among the family. When I read your story about your father's interest in your truck travels it reminded me of how proud my late father was when I started my career with the local fire department. He always wanted to know what was happening, how was everything at the fire station, etc. These are memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Best wishes to you and your family. bulldogboy

You're welcome. I always enjoy discussing Mack fire apparatus. I've learned a lot on these forums. bulldogboy

It was built by Sutphen and sold to the Heidlersburg Fire Company in PA. It is a 2001 "CL" chassis with a 2005 Sutphen cab and body. bulldogboy

The red Mack shows up on page 23 of John Malecky's book, "Mack Tilt Cab Fire Apparatus". According to Mr. Malecky it was built by Marion on a Mack "MB" chassis; the cab does not tilt. It was in service in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. bulldogboy

Say hello to Red Green, Harold, and all the gang at Possum Lodge. Happy Canada Day; I like that show. bulldogboy

Happy Canada Day to all our northern friends from all of us in New Hampshire. Northern NH, VT, ME, PQ, and NB are real neighbors; the border almost doesn't exist as everyone crosses back and forth. Fire departments routinely assist each other on both sides of the border in the largely rural areas. I hope to vacation in Newfoundland this summer. bulldogboy

A Condor making a beer run. The Condor, I believe, is a Freightliner product. American LaFrance used the Condor chassis to built fire and refuse trucks. At the time Freightliner owned ALF but I don't know if ALF had the Condor chassis or if it Freightliner let ALF use it. The Condor was also used by Sterling, a division of Freightliner. Notice the Condor name on the front of the truck. bulldogboy

There is a very interesting paperback book in the "Images of America " series titled, "Cape Cod Firefighting" by Britton W. Crosby. Mr. Crosby also created the "CapeCodfd.com website. This book has many old photos of the fires, apparatus, and firefighters of Cape Cod. There is one chapter, "Forest Fires", that has photos of many of the brushbreakers that served fire departments on Cape Cod. Many of them were built on Ford or International chassis. The Mack "NO" does not show up in any photos. If it did serve on Cape Cod my first thought would be either Camp Edwards, an Army base, or its neighbor, Otis Air Force Base. In the book there is a photo of the Otis crash station in the 1950s; one of the vehicles is a 1944 Diamond T brushbreaker. Due to more modern fire apparatus, communications, fulltime firefighters, and a larger population, Cape Cod does not suffer the severe forest fires that once ravaged the landscape. However, due to large amounts of forests and National Park lands, the potential still exists on the Cape and the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard for forest fires to ignite. Brushbreakers are still important pieces of apparatus in the arsenal. I just returned from a vacation on Cape Cod; didn't see any forest fires or brushbreakers. I hope that 41chevy gets a reply from Mr. Crosby, it would be nice to know where the "NO" served. bulldogboy

cstaples; Thanks for the info. Ironically, Peterborough, NH's previous tanker, a Mack "R" model, was also severely damaged in an accident with a propane truck in 1997. While responding mutual aid to Rindge, NH the tanker collided with a propane truck at the intersection of Rtes. 202 and 124 in Jaffrey, NH causing the propane truck to roll over into a building. Fortunately, there was no explosion. I believe that the propane truck driver was cited for not yielding to fire apparatus. bulldogboy

Expanding the last photo shows Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department on the side of the rescue. Hughesville, Pa, perhaps? Their website shows a couple of old engines, one a nice Mack "L" model with a deluxe cab. No mention of a rescue truck. All the Hughesville apparatus are painted blue, even the old ones. Anyway, a classic old Mack rescue. bulldogboy

I think that Walter was purchased by KME Fire Apparatus a few years ago. This gave KME an aircraft crash truck to add to their stable of fire apparatus. KME also purchased Mack's fire apparatus designs when Mack went out of the fire apparatus business. bulldogboy

This Mack "RD" fire tanker is sitting next to U.S. 1 in New Hampshire. Looks too new and in too good a condition not to be in service anymore. Must be more to the story. bulldogboy

A couple of Park Construction Company Macks and a Ford "Louisville" (really!) take a break from all the heavy lifting. Park is located in Fitzwilliam, NH bulldogboy

What fire department in TN received that "CF"? Nice job by East Farmingdale. bulldogboy

I see that Gilletti's does body work; that one must have been a challenge! bulldogboy

In 1960 Bermuda received the first Mack fire engines equipped with diesel engines. There were two open-cab "B" model pumpers and one open-cab "B" model hose wagon. I saw one of the pumpers in 1979. The St. George, Bermuda Fire Brigade had a 1960 Mack "N" model pumper. Both fire brigades have since been merged into one fire department, Bermuda Fire Service. Until the mid-1960s Mack's international operations, Mack Trucks Worldwide, Ltd., was headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When Zenon C.R. Hansen became Mack president he brought all of Mack's administrative operations to Allentown. I can imagine what happened when someone was being transferred: "Hey, Joe, you're being transferred overseas to our international operations". Joe, "Oh no, where am I being sent to?" "Bermuda!" Joe, "I am so outta here; paradise, here I come." bulldogboy

Looks like a former Long Island truck, judging by the booster line placement. Appears to be in good shape, just needs the radiator shell rechromed and a Bulldog. bulldogboy