paulromano

Hi Dan: Welcome. Be assured you are among friends! Your BG is an interesting apparatus. I find it unusual that it had no ladders from the factory, at least none I can see. I might have some brochures from the early Mack B series that list the "standard" equipment for the trucks in the series. Every Mack contract I have seen has at least one and usually more than one, pages of changes to the standard specification by the ordering department. These trucks were true customs and Mack was very interested in supplying the needs of all of it's customers. Each department would modify the standard so that their new apparatus would fit into their individual operating system. For example, my department ordered a pair of Dietz Fire King kerosene lanterns on our 1934 Mack. I think the Dietz was the standard, the electric lanterns were just coming into use at the time. The suppliers of the era were Grether, Woodhouse and others, some makers like American laFrance made their own electric lanterns. Before I digress too far, it might be helpful if you could post pictures of the apparatus as it is presently equipped. That would be helpful in identifying what is wrong or missing. For example, I hope the Mack script suction caps have survived as they are very hard to find. A friend of mine had some made for a restoration but they were quite expensive, vicinity of $400 plus. Those caps are not like the usual, the plate with "Mack" on it is a separate piece that is held in with a spring. The extinguishers are probably long gone although you might be lucky and find them in the firehouse attic or cellar or someone might have taken them home so they wouldn't get lost. I'll look for the old brochure and let you know how I make out. Paul

Nice Truck! Chances are being a 1954 that it has a 707B as the 707C was an option and I'm not sure if it was available in 54. Easy to tell: 707B has intake manifold and exhaust manifold on same side, 707C has intake manifold and exhaust manifold on opposite sides. I might have a manual for that model, let me know if you don't find one. I noticed in the ad that it mentions that some chrome is off the truck for plating. The photo shows a Rostand bell bracket but no bell or harp. If you don't get those parts with it I have a bell and harp for that truck/bracket that I would make you a good deal on. From my experience, keeping it at 45 for the first 20 miles is a good practice as it lets all the parts kinda meld together before getting into highway speeds. The top speed of your B model will depend on where the factory geared it when it was made. Most early ones were direct in 5th, some were direct in 4th with 5th being OD. Good luck with it!

Hi Al, it was a pleasure to see you, thanks for helping to lighten the load. Let me know if the fender steps don't fit, money-back guarantee is in effect. Love to hear about the restoration sometime. Thanks again.

Charlie: Thanks, it was a pleasure to speak with you. Would love to see your fleet sometime. Please let me know if I can help you with anything. Thanks!!! Paul

Carried about 6000lbs of "Heavy Metal" to Allentown, got to talk trucks with a number of friends that I haven't seen in a while, got beat up on prices by too many people that are watching too many episodes of "Pickers", found out I just missed an Ahrens-Fox apparatus fire extinguisher, met Mike from the BMT list, saw photos of his great fleet, was amazed that there was no interest in two Rostand bells, did my best to lighten the load for the ride home and plan to hit the sack early tonight to get an early start home in the AM. Other vendors told me that they had a good day. Seemed to be more vendors selling fire truck stuff than t-shirts compared to recent years. I brought about ten boxes of fire truck related paper: manuals, brochures, pictures etc. Mixed in was some railroad stuff. A prospective customer dug out the following railroad stuff: six timetables from Western railroads from the 1920's, B&M RR employees timetable from the 20's, and about ten other pieces of good early railroad stuff. Asked me what I could do on the lot, told him "fifty bucks" for all---he rolled his eyes and said he would put it back. I told him I knew what the stuff was and that two of the timetables would fetch that amount by themselves but he wasn't interested......Oh Well. Guess I know why I do fire truck stuff more than railroad. Thanks to all the list members that stopped by.

Charlie: sent you a message. Thanks, Paul

I don't suppose anyone would know someone who would have any interest in the below FWD advertising ashtray?? or maybe the FWD brochure, I mean brochures (forgot one)

some shots of the B/L model fender steps:

I have never seen a rebuild kit for them. Ever try Darley?? Might be something they would have.

Thanks Guys! We are in spaces 181, 182, 183, 196, 197, 198 at the diagonally opposite corner from the entrance, right across from the small food window. Albert: I think the steps will fit a later L Model but will post a photo when I dig them out. 1958FWD: don't have a floating strainer, sorry. Fxfymn: I would love to see Charlie B. It's been a while. I found a bunch of older Fram filters that I got while cleaning out a large department's garage years ago. The mechanic had marked some for a Mack 673T diesel motor. They are Fram number PH49A and also some Fram filters, number C-30P that list some ALF and Seagrave motors, image below.

Let me first say if I am posting something that is not appropriate for this section of the Forum, please accept my apology and let me know so that I can move it. I just wanted to let interested members know that I will be setting up at Allentown, PA for the Union Historical Fire Society Spring Thaw fire memorabilia and equipment marketplace on Sunday, April 21, 2013. I am bringing an assortment of Mack related items with me including Rostand Bells, Original bell brackets for B Models, C Models and L Models, a Mack extinguisher, Mack hood trim for L Models, some oil filters for 707 Gas motors, Misc. motor parts for 707 gas motors, fender steps for rear fenders of B Model apparatus and other stuff that I haven't packed yet. I will be in the same 8 spaces that I have had for the last 25 or so years. This market has changed tremendously over the years and the number of people that bring "Heavy Metal" is dwindling steadily. I don't know how many more years I will continue setting up so don't put off visiting until next year if you need something tough. Thanks, I have a large number of Mack Manuals for FIre Apparatus that I have collected over the years. I am trying to whittle down my stuff so if you need a particular manual, shoot me a note and I will let you know if I have it. I have none for L Models and mostly B Model B-85, B-95, B-125 available. Paul Romano Sanbornville, NH

A friend of mine has an assortment of L Model Mack parts for sale. Parts include: a 707 gas motor (partially disassembled ) 5 speed overdrive transmission, 5.13 rear end, whole grill (non chrome), radiator, hood, open cab (no doors), partial pump, driveshafts, windshield, bed (real long), real good fenders (wide front and rear) and other stuff. These parts are from a changeover and he would rather not scrap them. Contact Charlie Hatfield at: hatfieldc@insightbb.com or cell phone/text: 502-939-8883.

They did make the B-Model in the rear facing second seat with access thru a walkway in the middle of the hosebed. This photo is a B Model that I bought from Dayton, Ohio which was that model. It was a factory diesel with a spicer bus auto transmission.

For your viewing pleasure, a couple more Macks from Memphis, first an L Model four door and another B Model four door.

The B Model pictured above was sold into a collection in St. Louis. Mack made a number of three and four door B Models, some that come to mind are State College, PA and Memphis, TN. The B Models with the 707 were generally B-95 or B-85 in the multi-door confiiguration however with the popularity of the Hall-Scott motor on the West coast, Mack made a Model with a Hall Scott labeled the B-21. After having said they were popular on the West coast, below is a B-21 from Memphis, TN. I think the only apparatus I would rather own than a four door B Model would be an American laFrance 400 Series Duplex pumper from the Los Angeles Fire Department. None were known to survive. For those that are not familiar with them, the duplex pumpers had two V-12's and two 1500 gpm pumps. The SPAAMFAA magazine, Enjine-Enjine had a good article about them some years ago.

Found this R Model Cab and Chassis on the side of Route 101 in Epping, NH. Buxton Oil is the original owner. They purchased the truck new in 1985, used it as an oil delivery truck then put a dump body on it. The truck has about 200,000 miles on it. Didn't get motor or transmission info as the mechanic had gone for the day. Asking price is $7,000. Phone number for Buxton Oil is: 888 4 Buxton.

A common practice of some Mack dealers was to not spec factory items like beacon rays or the small warning lights on the rear stanchions or spotlights. These would be installed by the dealer who would make more money on them than if they were specified from the factory. It was very common for the dealers to have their own gold leaf specialist that would do all of the gold leaf striping and lettering. The factory pricing generally allowed for "X" number of gold leaf letters or numbers, the dealer would add much of the striping later on. On Macks, it was very common for the rear tail/brake lights to be replaced by larger units after the vehicle had been in service for a while. Many 50's Macks were delivered with a Mars light at the top of the windshield, a lot of which were replaced by Federal Beacons which were just becoming popular in the 50's. I have some old Mack dealer pricing books for fire apparatus and the factory did not give the dealers much of a break on the cost of certain "add-ons" which prompted a number of dealers to add it themselves. Some fire companies discouraged this practice by specifying that all options were to be installed by the factory. Over the years the manufacturers have actively discouraged this practice citing safety and design problems if things were not done at the factory plus warranty was always an issue.

Great truck and great story. I never knew Mack did a stainless body CF. I had occasion to be at the CF factory in Macungie around 1982 or 83, we were in the market for a new pump and were getting the tour at Mack. I happened to stumble across a Mack CF off the line being finished out. The workers detailing it told me that it was an aluminum body CF. I told them I had never heard of that option, they said that Mack didn't advertise it but told customers that they could also do an aluminum body to keep customers from switching to that aluminum factory in Florida. We ended up buying a CF chassis and having the body done by E-1 after having to have three thousand dollars worth of rust repair done in 1981 on our 1976 CF.

Cal is defintely a great resource. If you don't have success, you could call Chuck Buschardt in Houston, TX, a retired Houston FF who is a Mack Fan and has quite a bit of stuff (pieces/parts) when I was last there. 832-724-7968.

What a nice truck!! Don't see many CF's with Budds. I'm not familiar with the motor you mention, it it a V-8? Is New Baltimore in PA?

Nice Rig!! I am surprised that it made it all this way without the bell disappearing-- they are usually the first thing that becomes a souvenir. The bell on it is not a Mack (Rostand) bell but is more like a bell used on early horsedrawn apparatus, especially a steam fire engine. The swinging type mount is the key. In some cases, fire companies move bells from older apparatus to each new replacement. Your paint work is looking good!! Enjoy the rig.

There is an ebay auction just started, number 360487177168 for a front clip of a 1947 Mack fire truck. The clip includes motor, front axle, transmission and pump. Motor looks to be a 707B (intake and exhaust manifolds on same side) and the pump is a Hale Centrifugal piped as a 750 gpm. The unit is located in Florida. Buy it now price is $1,250. The link is: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Clip-of-a-1947-Fire-Truck-with-Mack-Gas-Engine-Transmission-and-fire-pump-/360487177168?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53eeb5cbd0

That truck was originally from Hingham, MA.

Congratulations on the purchase and getting her home expeditiously. Regarding the chrome, do you mean you want some rechromed?? Hard to tell from photos but before you go through the cost and hassle of sending stuff out for refinish, try a really good polish like Maas or Flitz. If you have any light pitting, Flitz sells a buffer that goes on a hand drill and is good at getting out light rust or pitting. If it looks cloudy/rusted or pitted, before you rechrome try quadruple ought (0000) steel wool with Flitz or Maas. You will be surprised at how good it comes out. DON'T use a drill with any type of metal buffing wheel. If you can't find Maas, let me know and I'll send you some. Flitz is easy---ebay. You probably already know this but I would change all the fluids ASAP. Especially important is the pump transfer case. Many apparatus don't get this checked while in service so it is essential to make sure you have fresh oil of the right viscosity on board. Same goes for the cooling system

Mack made a total of 9 - B-21 model fire trucks. They were 1250 gpm pumpers with a 935 c.i. Hall Scott motor. Of the nine, only two were semi-cabs which this truck is. This truck is for sale on ebay with a buy it now of $12,000. Wish I had 12k!!!! ebay item number: 170902904877