bulldogboy

On Friday, March 24, I was driving in downtown Boston. Sitting at a traffic light next to the Longfellow Bridge construction site I looked over to see a new style Ford medium duty flatbed at the site. It appeared to me to be larger than an "F-650" so I took a quick look as the light turned green and I thought that the emblem said "F-850", definitely not "F-750". Is this possible? Keep in mind that I was driving in downtown Boston where you not only have to steer but also look forward, backward, to your left, to your right, above you, and below you all at the same time while also watching out for joggers, jay walkers, Marathon trainees, double parked cars, trucks making deliveries, wrong way drivers, snow banks, MBTA buses, and duck boats among many other perils. Therefore, I couldn't spend too much time looking at the Ford. I know that I have seen a few Ford "E-550" cut-away vans. They appeared to have beefed up front ends and axles but I never saw the "E-550" on Ford's website. Is there really an "F-850" or maybe I just read it wrong? bulldogboy

Dave: Good luck and have a great trip. As I sit here looking out on our predicted 1' to 2' of snow I wish that I was down in Lee County, FL today. There probably aren't too many Mack fire apparatus still in service in Florida. Lots of relatively new Sutphens in the Lee and Collier areas. bulldogboy

This information is from the Connecticut Trolley Museum's website: The 1927 Mack "AP" 1000/150 was delivered to the Willimantic, CT Fire Department, one of two "AP"s delivered to WFD that year, the other being a 75' TDA. In 1954 it was sold to the Willington Hill, CT Fire Department. It was WHFD's first truck. CTM acquired it in 1968. The 1936 Mack is a "BM", 600 GPM model. It was originally purchased by the West Springfield, MA. Fire Department. Its last assignment was at WSFD's station at the Eastern States Exposition. This station is only open during the exposition's fall show. CTM also owns a 1947 Mack "Type 45" semi-cab pumper that originally served the Hingham, MA Fire Department. CTM looks like a nice place to visit; has anyone been there? The Eastern States Expo is a great take in the fall but try to visit on a weekday; weekends are "wicked" crowded with traffic backed up to I-90. bulldogboy

This particular engine is an early "B" model, not an "AP". The "AP" model was a more powerful version of the "AC" model including the famed sloped "Bulldog" hood. According to Harvey Eckart in his book, "Mack Fire Trucks, 1911-2005", the Type 19 used a Mack "BQ" chassis with a 150 HP "AP" motor and a 750 or 1,000 GPM pump. I guess that would make it a hybrid, "BQ" chassis with an "AP" motor. Early "B"s were built from 1928 to 1937. I often reference Harvey Eckart's work because it is so thorough and knowledgeable and I don't want anyone to think that I actually know what I'm talking about. bulldogboy

Amthor also built fire truck bodies. Their selling point was that they would supply the body, mount the pump, and then the fire department would do all the finish work to its specs. It was a way to get a new body at a cheaper cost. Years ago, my department looked into replacing a Mack "CF" body with an Amthor but eventually went to a local shop. bulldogboy

Still the department antique but there are few current firefighters who can drive it so it just sits at headquarters. Once in a while a retired firefighter who had operated it is allowed to take it to parades and funerals. I'm hoping that it sticks around but as time goes by, who knows what will happen to it. Fantastic old truck that put in a lot of hard working years. bulldogboy

There is no doubt that if you stay in the fire service long enough you will wrinkle some sheet metal (or worse). I think that just about every fire department has a similar story. Years ago, after a major fire in my city we found some tools that belonged to a neighboring call department. I arranged to meet one of the members at his station and when I arrived one of the engines was parked on the apron and workers were fixing the overhead door. I remarked about work being done on the door and the firefighter said, "Take a look at the engine", so I walked around and, sure enough, there was the missing compartment door. Also, how many times did someone back into the pillars between the doors. Needed a G.O. to get a backup man in place. bulldogboy

Waterville Valley, NH Fire Department once operated this Mack "Type 45", 500/500 pumper. There is a another picture of it on page 69 of Harvey Eckart's book, "Mack Fire Apparatus". bulldogboy

Re: Reedsville Fire Rescue; in March, 2014 while responding to a reported house fire, one apparatus left with a compartment door open, struck a support pillar, and brought down the front of the fire station. The trucks were trapped under the collapsed roof but Tanker 6-1 and Rescue 6-1 are still in service according to RFR's Facebook page. A new station opened in 2016. bulldogboy

One unique roll-off, hook-lift truck in the fire service is in the town of Granville, MA. The fire department has Tanker 2, 1980 Mack "RB" chassis, painted green, with a roll-off body and a 3000 gallon water tank, painted red, mounted on it. Once or twice a week highway department workers drop the tank and use the truck to haul dumpsters from the transfer station to the landfill. Afterwards, they bring the truck back to the station and remount the tank. Not to worry, Tanker 1, a 2001 Mack "RD"/US Tanker, 1250/3000, is still available for full time fire service. bulldogboy

Joe, I know what you mean. I don't like seeing "CF"s, "R"s, and "MC"s rehabbed with four rectangular headlights in place of the original round ones. The trucks are still nice but the wrong headlights detract from their appearance. Sometime, how about photos of your tankers and stations. Thanks. bulldogboy

One of two "MB"s delivered to Derry, NH in 1978. Somewhere along the line it was rehabbed by Valley Fire Equipment Co. in Bradford, NH. bulldogboy bulldogboy

I think that ALF called this the "Fire Queen" model airport crash truck. There was a later model called the "Airport Chief". Back in the '50s, ALF built the USAF's O-10, O-11A, and O-11B crash trucks. The one on CL has a front ground sweep nozzle but looks like the roof turret is gone. Nice old ARFF vehicle. bulldogboy

RE: Litchfield Engine 3. Litchfield, NH is just northeast of Nashua, NH across the Merrimack River, Now known as Tanker 3 it is one of only a few fire trucks with Mack chassis still in service in the Nashua area. Where once most departments had at least one Mack, I can think of only three still in service: Litchfield, NH Tanker 3, Derry, NH Tanker 4, a 1991 Mack "RD"/Dingee 2300 gallon tanker, and Pepperell, MA Ladder 3, a 1987 Mack "MC"/KME/Hahn 100'. Nashua still has its 1947 Mack "L" 1000/200 sedan cab pumper. bulldogboy

Nashua, NH Fire Department Engine 8 was delivered to Nashua as a 1977 Mack/Grumman 1000/500 pumper. Lovingly (?) called the "Rubbish Packer" it was dressed up with a chrome grill and bumper but after an accident while responding to a call, the grill and bumper were replaced with a painted one. At this time all other NFD pumpers and ladders were on "CF" chassis. After its service as a pumper and as Pierces started to replace the "CF"s, the department mechanics decided to build an air truck to refill SCBA at fires. They replaced the Grumman body with one of the "Aerofire" bodies from a "CF" pumper and constructed the air truck. Several years later the body was moved to a IHC "S" chassis where it still resides today. This is what Engine 8 looked like about 1979. bulldogboy

Nice, that's what I remember a fire department looking like. Unusual headlights on Engine 1. bulldogboy

But think about all the exercise you got steering, double clutching, etc.; that should have worked off a few calories from dinner. Hope that you had a nice Christmas. Get the Mack under cover before Thursday's "noreaster" (at least that's what the TV weathermen and women are saying). bulldogboy

Looks like it has ground sweep nozzles under the front bumper. I don't think that I've seen that before on a "B" model. Another tandem axle Mack "B" model pumper was operated by the Marsh Harbour Fire Department on Grand Abaco Island, Bahamas. There used to be a photo of it on their website but it is no longer there. bulldogboy

Harvey Eckart's book, "Mack Model B Fire Trucks", has two photos of Mack "B" tandem axle fire trucks. One is a semi-cab delivered to Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company in McCandless Township, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. It doesn't mention the model but this is probably the other "B-95F" that General Ike mentioned. On the cover is a tandem axle "B" with a coupe cab delivered to Pratt & Whitney Aircraft's Florida Operations. There is no info on this one either but it looks like a "B-85F". I always thought that the Mack "B" model was the best looking fire truck, a little cramped in the coupe cab but still a great fire truck. It's funny but Mack's spec sheet for the standard "B" model fire truck lists it as a coupe, 3 man cab. When I operated one with the driver, officer, and a sling pack in the cab I cannot imagine a third person and still be able to steer, shift, and all the other stuff. bulldogboy

Deputy Chief 80: I agree with j hancock: I always liked the "E" model. This one appears to be a commercial chassis, "EH", with an aftermarket body and separate pump engine (not that there is anything wrong with that !!!!). Good luck with your restoration, keep us updated on its progress. bulldogboy

Look under "Trucking News", "News - Ford Medium Duty Trucks", posted October 28, 2016. bulldogboy

So, will the U.S. van market become over saturated with more brands? And, if so, who gets hurt the most, perhaps GM if they don't develop a "European" style van? I have no stake in this at all, just wondering. bulldogboy

A new UPS Ford F-650 bulldogboy

1950 model. There is only one 2 1/2" discharge on the right side for a total of three which usually, but not always, indicates a 750 GPM pump. Probably about a 200 gallon tank which was about right for that year. My department's "B" models had four 2 1/2" discharges but four were 750 GPM and one was 1,000 GPM. bulldogboy

Last Sunday, about noon, I was heading south on I-495 to a family function when I saw a nice, yellow Mack "B" model tandem tractor heading north on 495. I saw it just north of the Rte. 117 exit so I'm guessing that he might have left early and was heading home. I was driving at the time so I couldn't get a long look but it did look nice. bulldogboy