57 bcr

Nice H-61! I might have an extra B model hanger (in iron),in my expensive extensive inventory! If I do,I'll PM you,OK?

That explains it!

Our local Menards (home improvement chain) used to sell what they called "Handy Sand".It was washed and sized silica.But it had a warning label on it "Not For Sandblasting".Probably to escape the MSDS paperwork bullsh!t. Now the only sell "Black Blast" a more larger and more effective blasting material,made from steel mill slag.Either one,you need a mask for anyway.But yes, silicosis is a bad deal for you and your lungs.I agree.

Interesting! I wish he would have at least started it for us,and then driven it! Looked like a MSHA approved "Do Not Operate" tag on the ladder! That could be why we didn't get a "hands on" feel of the M-45!

Not as far as I know,Mike.

The Southern Wis. Chapter ATHS has had a truck show there in June,for the past 2 years.June 21-23,2013( I'll be in Macungie).The construction outfit I used to worked for,had 3 or 4 MACK Army 5 tons as water trucks.My cousin sold the last 2 a couple years ago on eBay,sorry! Yep, I go up Rt.12 out of the "Mad City"! Al

....................You can't win them all.....LOL!!......................Al

OK,back to the & Chicago area R model of the day! This time,the winner is.... Mike Lavery's (aka"macknutt" on BMT) '73 RS785LST! He got this one away from the "Storkfleet" at one of their weaker moments! Must be an early '73 because it still has the steel dash,O.D. Green in color.Always liked the "West Coast" MACKS,and this one is no exception. Note:Mike Boyd,photographer,has given us permission to use his fine photos in this post.Thanks, Mike!

Its a toss up...........Duel,Moonfire,Highballin'...........OK,Moonfire it is!

Lookin' Good

Thanks for posting.I have one of those too!

Great! Boy, my old '67 & '68 Panthers required more wrench time than riding time in '77! I don't think I got more than 50 miles in a whole season on them things! Glad to hear you had fun there Umodel!

Mike! Go through Sauk Prairie on my way to Baraboo,to the steamshow grounds.

I hear ya,Robert! I have an S-1654 (ex U-Haul)Lo-Pro. I am looking at putting different hubs or wheels on it (for bigger rubber).The thing is screamin' at 55 mph! Got a 7.3 n/a, 4.33 rear in it and direct in 5th Spicer.Have a 3 speed Spicer aux. for it. Thinking that the taller rubber might help out.Thats another project,though!

Nice "Binder"! Interesting body on it. Multi-use,huh?

The Chicago area (this guys going to hate me for that!) R model of the day belongs to this beautiful Value-Liner Brian Dhamer snapped these two pics at a Rantoul,Ill. truck show last year.This truck is out of New Berlin,Ill. I do not have the owners name. He sure did a nice job on it.

I am rebuilding a B-model steering wheel now, that was a gray (maybe a biege-just faded real bad?).it came out of a 1955 B-60T,that was originally a National Tea Co. truck.I was told certain companies ordereded the lighter colored wheels,so mechanics would make sure the wheel was clean before putting the truck back on the line! Gee,what a concept! Whenever I do get to my B-61LT,it will be painted white,just like my BCR steering wheel.Might say I gotta thing for white steering wheels!

All out of "likes" already,but you guys are hittin' the nail on the head,again.We did chores around the house,mowed the lawn,shovel snow,raked leaves,etc.We used to walk along the road and pick up empty pop bottles to return at the local store for $$.Then I got my first real job. I started working for my buddy's dad at 11 years old (1972) greasing trucks & trailers,checking tires,lights, oils,and batteries.I thought that was great.My buddy had already been doing that for 6 years already,by that time! His dad was harder on us than any drill seargent I would encounter years later,when I joined the ARMY! Later,the guy had gotten into the truck parts business,and at age 14 I was relining brake shoes and stocking parts and helping out at the counter.It was a great experiance and they were (and still are),very good to me. My father got the itch to leave his job as a foreman in a fabricating shop, and we moved 320 miles north ,to the U.P. of Michigan,where we bought a small resort.Much work to do there,and it was tough to leave my job in the truck parts field(like i had a choice!).But this was much better for dad,who I think was getting burned out at his position and needed a break.Cut a lot of grass,washed boats,rented boats out,hauled alot of garbage to the dump on Saturdays,hauled people and boats at 4am so they could take float trips on the river.But also got to ride my motorcycles and snowmobiles on the endless trails around our area. Enjoyed helping out our family with different automotive issues.My parents and grandparents worked hard and played hard.We had a great life,on very little money,we payed our bills and we're resposible for what we did. Wouldn't trade it for anything!

IT is,Mike,I agree!

Damn wedge brakes! I used to call 'em SOMETIMES BRAKES! Seems sometimes they'd work,sometimes NOT!

Thanks, guys!

I'm off for a rew more weeks,Mark.We could 2-man that B and get it back,twice as fast! Al

Taking another "cheap shot",I'm going to put the BCR in as Chicago R model of the day First picture is with a '63 Fruehauf 35ft aluminum ext. post van.2nd pic,is with Jess Robertson's 22ft East Genesis frameless dump trailer.3rd is with the '63 Fruehauf again. Sorry folks,going to have to switch title to just "Chicago area Mack of the day",as my R model photos are running low.