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

Pepperell, MA Fire Department, Forestry 1, 2002 Ford F-550 with a 450 GPM pump. bulldogboy

Meadowood County Area Fire Department, Fitzwilliam, NH, once ran this early Mack "B" model pumper as a muster truck. MCAFD was a private fire department that ran a fire school and provided specialized fire equipment (dive team, rescue tools, tankers, and a couple of former FDNY Mack "Aerialscopes") mutual aid to fire departments in southwest NH, southeast VT, and north central MA. It is now out of business. bulldogboy

Great looking truck, looks like it was well taken care of for the last 16 years. Hope that you get 16 more years out of it. bulldogboy

It's the Barnstable Fire Department that has a 1935 Mack "B" model pumper. Same town, different department. West Barnstable's antique is a 1956 Ford "F"/John Bean 500/500. Barnstable, MA has five fire districts: Barnstable, West Barnstable, Cotuit, Hyannis, and Centerville-Osterville- Marston Mills (COMM). bulldogboy

Interesting placement of that after market beacon. Also, looks like they removed the "Sirenlite" from the cowl and covered it with a metal plate. My department's semi-cab "L" model pumpers came with the Mars "88" light and a "Sirenlite". Later, the mechanics added a beacon on a post behind the cab. The crewcab "L" had an "88" light on the roof and a "Sirenlite" on the cowl. A beacon was later added to the rear of the roof. bulldogboy

On Saturday, September 10, 2016, the Salisbury Station Bridge, a wooden covered bridge connecting Cornwall and Salisbury, VT was destroyed in a fire. It was 154' long and was built in 1865. The fire was discovered at about 2:50 P.M. and by the time Cornwall and Salisbury firefighters arrived the bridge was destroyed. As of now the fire is under investigation by fire investigators from the Vermont State Police. Wooden bridges had roofs to protect the wooden decks and frames from the weather. bulldogboy

These two Mack "R" model and one Ford "C" model water trucks from the former Rockingham Park in Salem, NH will be among the equipment and property being auctioned on September 24 and 25, 2016. Here is a link to the auctioneer's website: www.jsjauctions.com. bulldogboy

This 1970s Mack "R" model water truck worked at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH. The "Ole Rock" was a thoroughbred and harness racing track well known throughout the world of horse racing. It recently closed after 110 years of operation; in recent years there was no live racing, only simulcasting. I don't know the specs on this truck but as it only watered down the track between races it probably doesn't have a lot of mileage. This truck and other equipment will soon be auctioned off. Back in the 1960s I remember the "Rock" had a larger Mack "E" model (maybe an "EM" or "EQ") water truck. They threw a few lengths of 1 1/2" fire hose on the front fender and that was their fire truck to protect the stable areas. I wish that I had a picture of that truck. In 1980 the grandstand was destroyed in a spectacular fire; the "E" was long gone by then but it would have been a sight to see it fighting the fire alongside Salem's fleet of Mack "CF" apparatus. bulldogboy

To continue the Cape Cod brush breaker theme, there were many brush breakers built on Ford COE 4X4 chassis. The first one was built by the town of Barnstable, MA in 1937. Later ones were built by the individual fire departments and Barnstable County on 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s Ford COE 4X4 chassis. There were a couple of 4X2 but most were 4X4. A good reference on Cape brush breakers is www.capecodfire.com. Other Ford COE fire trucks were some 1956 Ford "C" pumpers built for the Canadian army and some 1956 Crown pumpers built for California departments. Both the Canadian and California Fords had semi-cabs and very short wheelbases. 1956 was the last year for the fixed "C" model cab; starting in 1957 the famous "C" model tiltcab was introduced. bulldogboy

Mack 458: You're right, a Mack fire chassis would have dual ignition with dual button starters, no key. I forgot about that little detail. Panama Fire Apparatus was a used fire truck dealer located in Lynn Haven, FL. That would explain the Panama sticker on the bumper. I'm not sure if they are still in business. bulldogboy

My departments red 1956 "B-85F" had a green interior, all the later ones had red interiors. I've never heard of a Mack built "B-68" pumper. The body on this particular truck does not look like a Mack body. On both sides of the hood, on the right side ahead of the air filter, there is a emblem that may be from the body manufacturer. It almost looks like a Maxim emblem but I can't tell for sure. BTW, would a gas engine have an air filter on the outside like that, I always thought that meant a diesel engine? dogg rescue, do you know what department it came from? bulldogboy

Then you can have some Yuengling ice cream for dessert. bulldogboy