bulldogboy

Always sad to see a "CF" go out of service but I guess time marches on. I joined my fire department when we still ran "L" and "B" model Macks and I was there when we purchased our "CF" models. Now they, too, are all gone; makes me feel really old. Didn't Millbury's and Leicester's Aerialscopes respond to the Worcester Cold Storage fire in 1999? bulldogboy

Loadstar: Double clutching is definitely learned by doing. I learned to double clutch when I joined the fire department. My department had a fleet of "L" and "B" models so double clutching was mandatory. I found that each Mack, like people, had its own personality, some shifted easily, others required that you hit the right spot when shifting gears. In general, I found the "L" models easier to shift than the "B" models; perhaps because they were older and the gears were worn down more. In any event, I did my share of grinding the gears. Both the "L" with its four speed transmission and the "B" with a five speed started in second gear. Good luck with your Mack. bulldogboy

Interesting story about that 1960 "C" model ladder truck in NYC. It looks strange with those two boxes mounted on the front fenders. There was a story in the Mack magazine, "Bulldog" several issues ago about the Woodsboro, MD Fire Department who was special called to the Pentagon on 9/11/2001 with their 1955 Mack "B" model ladder truck. All the current ladder trucks were too big to fit into the Pentagon but the old Mack was perfect for the job. bulldogboy

This might change the "Camping World Truck Series" to the "Sleeper Cab Series" or something like that. bulldogboy

I know that there was a difference in front bumpers. 1947 and earlier had small front bumpers, from 1948 on to the end of the model run "L" models had the larger, full bumpers. I never noticed that there was a difference in the front fenders. bulldogboy

Yep, I remember those days, painting the running boards on the "L" and "B" model engines with silver paint. Then we painted the tires with tire black, highlighted the letters in white, and waxed them; they looked great. Those were fire trucks with class! bulldogboy

I'm pretty sure that the four square headlights were added to these trucks during a refurbishment. I have also seen "CF" and "MC" fire trucks with the four square headlights added during a rehab. The "R", "CF", and "MC"s came from the factory with single round headlights. I prefer the single headlights, that's what Mack intended them to have. As to fire bodies used on Macks; when Mack built a complete apparatus they built most of the "CF" models but the "R" and "MB"/"MC" bodies were built by other manufacturers such as Grumman (Howe) and Hamerly. bulldogboy

I'm sure that Mack is happy selling 100 trucks to the military regardless of whether they are tactical or administrative models. bulldogboy

Loadstar: The left rear fender doesn't look too bad; I've seen them worse, especially when they get chewed up by a broken chain. You are right about the holder in front of the fender; it is to hold a soft suction hose to connect the pump to a hydrant. Looking at the pictures, the truck seems to be in great shape. Congrats and good luck. bulldogboy

A "B" model with a cooler and beer taps!! That would have come in handy at brush fires back in the day. bulldogboy

The Kittery, ME Mack "B" was Engine 2, 1000/750, semi-cab. Kittery also has Engine 2, a 1983 "CF" 1250/750 pumper and Tanker 5, a 2008 "Granite"/KME 1250/3000. Pictures on www.firenews.org, Department List, Maine, Kittery. bulldogboy

cstaples: I was wondering what fire department that "RD-800" came from. Thanks for the info. Francestown Fire Department runs a 1995 Mack "RD"/EJ Murphy 1000/2500 tanker. There is a picture on www.firenews.org, Department List, New Hampshire, Francestown. bulldogboy

I was basing the transmission selection on the "L" and "B" models that I operated: the "L" models pumped in 4th gear and the "B" models pumped in 5th gear. In all cases it was the highest gear for those engines. FWD is correct, make sure that you know the proper sequence for your particular engine. You don't want to have a scare like Joe in Yocum Creek, KY. had with his "CF". I operated these engines 40 years ago so some of the details may have been lost in the haze but I think I'm pretty accurate on how our particular engines worked. Oh well, off to the Bruce Springsteen and the "E" Street Band concert. bulldogboy

Yes, that's about right on the top speed. These things are not speed demons; they were built prior to the Interstate highway system and were intended for responses around town plus the motors of that era were not as powerful as they are today. A sunny day, driving a semi-cab Mack fire engine down the highway; doesn't get much better than that. You will get lots of looks from passing motorists (plus a few curse words because you are only doing 45 MPH). Hope that the seller gave you good advice on the truck's ability to make it home. Good luck with this truck. One other thing about the pump set-up, before I get in trouble with the safety guys, don't forget to chock the wheels. We never did this in the "L" and "B" model days but today if you forget the chocks, look out. bulldogboy

Most "L" models have an outside lever on the pump panel with three settings: "Road", "Prime", and "Pump". The procedure is to set the parking brake, put the transmission in neutral, then exit the cab and put the lever into prime or pump, depending on what you need to do, then put the transmission into the highest gear (usually fourth). You should hear the engine speed up and the speedometer and tach move. Now, having said that, it looks like in your picture the truck may have a lever inside to the left of the driver's seat (the photo is dark but it looks like a lever next to the seat). In that case, set the brake, transmission in neutral, then lift the lever (there should be a lock to hold it in place), then shift the transmission into the highest gear. Most "B" models and I'm assuming later "L" models have this interior lever. There will be a primer button on the pump panel. Be sure NOT to run the pump in a dry condition for long because you will do serious damage to the pump. If you can, put water in the tank, then prime the pump before you start to flow water. Been a long time for me since I operated "L" and "B" model pumpers. bulldogboy

Could you get a few people together and pool resources? I know that retired firefighters' associations or relief associations will buy a retired department truck and use it for parades, funerals, P.R., etc. While you as an individual may not have full ownership of it, you will be preserving a piece of your department's history. There are many departments that have sold off old apparatus and then years later wished that they had that apparatus back. Good luck trying to preserve this engine. bulldogboy

My town's P.W.D. has "Terrapro LE"s with steering wheels on both sides so we're covered no matter what. Any Mack fire apparatus still in service "down under"? bulldogboy

Looks like a "B" model deluxe cab fire engine behind the 1963 "B-61". Anyone know where that is from? Thanks. bulldogboy

Hey, everyone: Take and post lots of pictures of the Brockway fire apparatus in attendance. Thanks. I would love to be there. bulldogboy

I didn't think that the specs I saw on Amherst Engine 4 sounded right; the truck is too small for 2000 gallons. There is a picture of it on www.firenews.org Department List, NH, Amherst. Amherst and Lyndeborough designed them to be source pumpers. Lyndeborough is very rural with no public water supply and Amherst still has areas of no public water supply. I'm from New England so I know a little (very little) about some departments. bulldogboy

Former Amherst, NH Engine 4 - 1977 IHC/Gilbert Welding (Manchester, NH) 500/2000. Lyndeborough, NH had one similar to Amherst's. Is that LS-85 from Kittery, ME? bulldogboy

Joe: That's good news; those old Macks are pretty tough and keep on truckin'. Hate to think how this would have played out with one of the newer electronic rigs. By the way, how did you make out with the brakes on the '67 Ford? bulldogboy

Saw my first "CAT" truck today; it wasn't yellow. At first, I thought it was a Volvo on steroids. bulldogboy

Since most of the Macks I drove were fire trucks I have to say red. bulldogboy

dek1581: I'm not sure how many bolts there are. I drove a "C" model ladder truck many years ago and I remember the department mechanics told me that the canopy had to be removed to change the engine. I haven't seen a "C" model upclose in years so I can't help with the bolt issue. The canopy didn't seem all that heavy duty so I would imagine that once it was unbolted a few strong people could lift it off. Hopefully, someone with more mechanical knowledge of "C" models could weight in on the subject. Good luck with your project; "C" models were great trucks. bulldogboy