paul roncetti

I was in Falmouth several weeks ago; had dinner at the British Beer Works near Surf Drive Beach. It was nice looking out over Vineyard Sound at Martha's Vineyard. Not being from the Cape, I forget

how close Martha's Vineyard is to the mainland. Still need to get over to Edgartown someday and check out the F.D.'s Mack "AB" and "A" fire engines.

bulldogboy

From where you were it's 7 miles. You were in Falmouth Heights.

I live off Brick Kiln Road, and also that summer of 69 was spent in University Hospital in Boston, starting a chain of events that toppled my trucking business, and another 15 miserable years before my health started to improve.

On which truck?

Hi fxf, Let me know when you get up here, see where I'm at when you do, have had some health issues lately. Where in Falmouth did you meet you're wife?

I am 3rd owner?

Hi Ernie, The truck was in Norwell, MA. I looked at it in Jan. I am going to have to do some digging to get the business card or chase down on the internet. Right now I have to go to my dogs for 4 hours I think, but will get on it when I get back, Thanks, Paul

8v71 Detroit Forgot year, price was around 5 grand, don't know if it sold yet.

On the U 3rd

Its pretty hot here right now fxf, but supposed to be in 60's next week. Maybe we might meet up, stay in touch.

Hi fxf, I was on my way out of the city that day at Brigham Circle when I saw those trucks responding, then by the time I got home two hours later, was all over the news. When they returned with sirens its very possible another call came in, but I do know a lot of times the sirens were on when returning usually when congested there as you know Wentworth is behind the station.

OK, Its making sense to me now. My dorm room was across the street from the busiest fire station in Boston on Huntington Ave. I remember it was common practice for them to return to the station using sirens because usually by the time they started backing in they were off to another fire and sometimes just go right by the station. It was located about 500 feet from a busy intersection also. Huntington was the main road for commuters coming into the city from the west as the Mass Pike wasn't there yet. In the center was the trolly line with two sets of track boarded by sidewalk making the tracks like any normal rail line sitting on ties. I remember sometimes those trucks couldn't get through the 2 lanes of traffic and would go straight across the street over the curbing and the tracks, I then understood why there were always wreckers towing those trucks back for repairs in Dorchester.

NO.

This was tried by by Seagrave at some point, and it failed miserably. Not only is the true steering needed for navigating streets, but it is also useful for when you need to position the rig on a fireground for most efficient use of the aerial. A good driver and a good tillerman will get that rig into places a short wheelbase engine company could only dream of. Better to have the true directional steering so that everyone is on the same page without confusion. I know of at least two rigs built by Seagrave with the reversed gearing and they were converted back to true directional in a rapid orderly military manner.

So fxf, you just turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the wheels to go and forget that your not driving a cat or tractor. In other words you steer the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to swing. The other thing I noticed that most ladder trailers had single wheels, not dual, wasn't that a lot of weight for just 2 wheels. Paul

Another thing of interest, When I was going to college in Boston, they had quite a few FWD pumpers and ladder trucks, the pumpers were 4 wheel drive as were the tractors of the ladder trucks. This was back in the early 60's.

Hi Randy, So I was wrong and actually the loser in the arguments. I understand the wheels have to go left on a right hand corner but wouldn't it be easier to gear it so the tiller man just steers like he's driving a car or the tractor even though the wheels go the opposite direction, he can still do his 1/4 turn compensations? Paul

I am looking into the source now, but one fact of life is, we do know that he did not look like the Mr. Innocent he has been shown as at 10 years old, why does the media do that.

I don't know who the other person you refer to is, but this is the pic at age 17 that has been released by a few of the major networks.

What a shame. Randy, not to change the subject, but I have had many discussions over the years concerning the tiller man on a ladder truck. I maintain when they are taking a turn, say a right hand turn, then he would turn the steering wheel to the right just like the driver of the tractor, that would turn the trailer wheels left to make the corner, am I correct? Paul

I told Mike I would be there, but looks very doubtful I can get there.

I think I am the 7th or 8th owner. On the DM800 I am the 5th owner.

Would probably cut down on the confusion to call it a Long Island truck because that's what it is.

Sean, I forgot who you said owned it when you drove it before it went to NJ? Was it a Kevin McKnight? Also was this after Sperzio owned it or before, not sure of the spelling. I think originally it was Gotham Sand that bought it. Later it went to NJ and then to GA.

I don't believe it is the original body but it has been on the truck since I first saw it in the 80s.

I will say its the truck that gets the most attention of mine, had another guy walk in this week after looking at it and wanted to know if it was for sale. Wish I had pics of it 20 years ago.

Dan, did it always have the big body on it in its day?

yah your probably right Sean

Hi Mack 45 Do you have a pic of the truck, Thanks, Paul