mjmccaffrey Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Recently purchased a1948 Mack Type 45 500 gpm that my dad broke in on with the Billerica, MA fire dept. back in the late 50's. Have been quietly searching for the 1966 B-95 that I remember playing on as a kid with no luck. Googled "Billerica Engine 2" by chance and discovered its predecessor! Even better - it was located 2 towns over from me!!! How about that for my Irish Luck?!My dad has passed, but I have been able to re-connect with many of his former "brothers" and they are more excited than me about the find and restoration project ahead. The overall condition is pretty good as it was in service from '66-83 before spending time as a training apparatus before being sold. The gentlemen who purchased it had intentions of making it a farm truck (ouch!), but never really got around to it. It ran for the last time in June 2007 and has sat ever since. I'm hoping to undertake it's complete restoration with the understanding that it will take some doing both financially and physically. Told my wife it was either a Corvette, a Blond or the Fire Truck - she commended me on my ultimate decision.... Stay tuned as I begin this process - I'm sure I'll be asking plenty of questions. I want to make the best of this and do it right (within reason) to get it back to its former self. Picture from the Mack Museum and it's present state. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom309 Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Way to go!!!That fire engine looks to be in pretty good shape. Good luck with the restoration.Jim Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-39556 Share on other sites More sharing options...
505 MACK Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Recently purchased a1948 Mack Type 45 500 gpm that my dad broke in on with the Billerica, MA fire dept. back in the late 50's. Have been quietly searching for the 1966 B-95 that I remember playing on as a kid with no luck. Googled "Billerica Engine 2" by chance and discovered its predecessor! Even better - it was located 2 towns over from me!!! How about that for my Irish Luck?!My dad has passed, but I have been able to re-connect with many of his former "brothers" and they are more excited than me about the find and restoration project ahead. The overall condition is pretty good as it was in service from '66-83 before spending time as a training apparatus before being sold. The gentlemen who purchased it had intentions of making it a farm truck (ouch!), but never really got around to it. It ran for the last time in June 2007 and has sat ever since. I'm hoping to undertake it's complete restoration with the understanding that it will take some doing both financially and physically. Told my wife it was either a Corvette, a Blond or the Fire Truck - she commended me on my ultimate decision.... Stay tuned as I begin this process - I'm sure I'll be asking plenty of questions. I want to make the best of this and do it right (within reason) to get it back to its former self. Picture from the Mack Museum and it's present state.The Rig looks great, with some TLC you will have a very nice truck. If you need any help give a call. I see the hub caps missing due you have them? The truck looks like it is mainly all there. Best of luck.Ray Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-39592 Share on other sites More sharing options...
frd1419 Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Good luck with it. Looks like it is in the same condition mine was in when I picked up my 41 type 45 last March. Everyone here in the forum is very helpful, even when I had my questions. Fred Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-39677 Share on other sites More sharing options...
engine2quarters Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Very nice find there. Looks almost like mine did when it was hidden in the woods. Hey, it is mine!Wait.No. It's not mine. I had 3 hard suction on the driver's side.Still looks good and a pretty 'easy' project. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-39768 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allison Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Engine 2, Looks like a solid rig and good luck... It’s a hard thing to spend all the time tracking things like your dads rig down and to actually be able to close the process with a purchase. I had to go from PA out to Michigan to bring my rig back home!! Had to pay a chunk just for that... I also am quietly trying to get the original firehouse that my rig ran out of.... ugh what a process that has been... 9 years later and im still trying to bring this one together... Any way ill stop rambling... Good luck and nice to see another one saved... Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-39894 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Congrats, Engine 2, she looks a beaut. I've added her to the E-model register per your post up there. All the best with the resto.CheersAndy Quote Whatever rubs your buddah. The Mack E Model Registry - 103 entries The Mack A Model Registry - 14 entries Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-40512 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogboy Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Hi, Engine 2: Is your Type 45 the former Mont Vernon, NH Engine 563? I know that they bought one from Billerica back in the mid 1960s. I like the Type 45; good luck with your restoration. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-41314 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmccaffrey Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hi, Engine 2: Is your Type 45 the former Mont Vernon, NH Engine 563? I know that they bought one from Billerica back in the mid 1960s. I like the Type 45; good luck with your restoration.Yes, indeed it is the former Mount Vernon, NH engine. A former Billerica Firefighter moved to Mount Vernon just after Billerica had taken delivery of a new 1966 B-85 and placed the 45 in reserve. Mont Vernon was looking for a pumper and the rest,as they say, is history. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-41378 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogboy Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Engine 2: Back in the late 1970s, early 1980s, I had Hollis, NH in my scanner. At that time Hollis and Milford, NH were on the same frequency. Mont Vernon is dispatched by Milford. On my scanner Hollis came in loud and clear but I could not pick up Milford's dispatches. However, due to Mont Vernon's location on top of the hill, I could pick up Mont Vernon FD's mobiles. I would not hear the dispatch but I could hear Mont Vernon clearly. One night I was listening when I heard "563 responding" (the '48 Mack was Engine 563),then "563 on the scene", etc. I thought that it was unusual not to hear the first out engines 561 or 562. Apparently, the call was minor because 563 returned shortly. End of story. A week or so later I was reading the local paper and in the Mont Vernon news there was a little article about the MVFD having had some apparatus problems. The article mentioned that recently there had been a fire call and only one engine was available to respond. I thought back to the night that I had heard 563 only responding and I guessed that was the answer to my question. I'm not 100% sure that it was referring to the same call that I heard but I believe that it was. Moral of the story: Nothing stopped the rugged little "Type 45", whether it was on duty in Billerica or Mont Vernon. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-42895 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoogers Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 hi iam just starting to restore a 1948 mack model 505 fiertruck it runs but the brakingsystom needs work truck is in fair shape good luck with your project my email is stoogers@verizon.net Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-65341 Share on other sites More sharing options...
609albert Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 good luck with your truck, the brakes are the most important in restoring, the hydrovac, master cyl , check valve,wheel cyls,and brake lines probably all might need some work, If it came from a cold region where it got snow and ice it can be bad on the truck, I had a 47 LS85 had the hydrovac and master cyl rebuilt , replace the 3 rubber hose lines(napa) and replaced some brake lines too, didn't do anything with the shoes or wheel cyls .,just bleed the system a few times, sold it last year,and now have a 54 MACK LS85 this time we sent the truck out to get the brakes and other work done. GOOD LUCK Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/10430-1948-mack-type-45/#findComment-65345 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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