bulldogboy

In the automotive section of the "Boston Sunday Globe" on March 3, 2013 there is an article about VW and its plans to surpass GM and Toyota as the world's largest car manufacturer. The VW product manager said that VW has no plans to produce a pickup truck for the U.S. (he said this shortly before leaving VW to work for Chevrolet). Their feeling is that American pickup truck owners are extremely brand loyal so it would be tough to break into the market. I saw a new Ford Ranger in St. Maarten last year; it looks a lot like the VW pickup. Maybe when it's time to replace my Ranger I can import one from SXM (that wouldn't be too expensive, would it?). bulldogboy

Didn't Dodge once sell a red pickup that came factory equipped with dual exhaust stacks? I think that it was called "Little Red Wagon" or something like that. To be p/c, it is no longer Dodge, now it's Ram (a rose by any other name, etc.). bulldogboy

When I started my full time career as a firefighter in the early 1970s, I don't think that my department's 10 Macks cost $430,000 total. bulldogboy

I remember several local "R" and "MB" model fire engines that had Scania engines. I assume that Mack offered these as a lower cost option to help win municipal bids. Did Mack find this more cost effective than building its own smaller diesel? bulldogboy

I have this brochure; it's 20 pages long with two pages of old Mack fire apparatus. There are two pages for each of the following pumpers: "CF", "R", "MC" and Midliner ("MS"). There are also two pages each for the "Aerialscope", "Bulldog I" aerial ladder, and the "MC" and "R" model chassis only. It brings back memories of Mack's glory days in the fire apparatus business. bulldogboy

Yes, it's a shame when old Mack fire trucks are left out to deteriorate. The one from New Haven formerly served West Fairlee, VT. There is another picture of it on www.firenews.org sitting in a field, presumably in Vermont. I think that it is a shame when a department gets rid of an old Mack. I know that there are money issues, lack of space, lack of interest in old fire trucks, not the original owner, etc. but I like to see departments keep their old Macks for parades, etc. A lot of small departments near me had second hand or home made Mack fire trucks, now they are all gone. Wish I had pictures of them all. bulldogboy

According to Offset-U-bet on another thread, some NMX tractors are for sale at McDevitt's in Manchester. I believe that NMX had at least one twin screw, there may have been others. Most were singles. Sad to see them go; I always liked seeing the Nashua logo on the highways. bulldogboy

Don't confuse Nashua Motor Express with Nashua Corporation. The only things that they had in common were; they both were located in Nashua, NH and both ran Mack tractors. NMX is the company that recently went out of business and will be selling their fleet of Macks. Nashua Corp. manufactured tapes, printing inks, and other computer products. The last Mack that I remember was a sharp looking blue "R" model. Offset-U-bet: I think that Nashua Corp. still has an office on D.W. Highway in Merrimack. Maybe you could contact them. bulldogboy

Back in the late 1970s there were a few departments near me that had tractor trailer tankers with "U" model tractors. Wish that I had taken pictures of them back then. They weren't very practical so were replaced by newer straight chassis tankers. fifth wheel: the website; www.firenews.org has a section on N.E. fire apparatus past and present. Under Holden, MA they mention the Mack "B" tanker but have no photo of it. Any chance that you could scan the Mack tanker photo to them? The webmaster is John Galla and he is always looking for N.E. fire photos. bulldogboy

Hey, Vlad, better wear your hard hat when you venture outdoors. Seriously, that meteor crash in Russia was unreal. Hope that everyone heals quickly and that the damage will be repaired soon. bulldogboy

Back in the early 1970s when the "MB" model fire engine was introduced, many small, volunteer fire departments operated apparatus mounted on commercial chassis such as Ford, GMC, IH, etc. The Mack "MB" was an entry into the "custom" fire apparatus world for these departments. Departments now had an affordable engine that incorporated the safety of a jump seat plus other "big city" features. Later, these departments could move into Mack "CF"s, Spartan, ALF, and other custom apparatus. While the "MB" was a commercial chassis, Mack made the fire apparatus version a "custom" by adding fire department features such as dual ignitions, beefed up suspensions, electrical systems, safety features, etc. required by the NFPA. This was also done to "custom" "R" model fire apparatus. bulldogboy

yarnall: Whose Mack "AC" fire engine are you hauling? bulldogboy

Law Motor Freight has had the NH Liquor Commission warehouse contract for many years. Recently they lost the bid to DHL. This was a large part of their business so what happens to the company from this point is unknown. They are contesting the bids but who knows how that will play out? Law's Mack "A" model roof ornament is a local landmark. It is just west of the current Nashua Motor Express terminal on Amherst Street (Rte. 101A). When I was a kid, LMF was known as Law & Ingham Trucking. They, along with Nashua Motor Express, Nashua Corporation, Improved Machinery Inc., and many others, had all kinds of Mack "A", "L", "B", "R", "CH", etc. tractors and straight trucks in operation. Along with the fire department's fleet of Macks, it was a great time to be a Mack fan. bulldogboy

Nashua Motor Express today announced it is shutting down its trucking operations after 92 years in business. The company will be involved in logistics only. They will lay off all their drivers and sell their 20 tractors, mostly "R" and "U" models. Too bad, another New England trucking company goes away joining St. Johnsbury, N&B Express, Holmes, etc. bulldogboy

And, after you change your filters, clean the lint trap and vent hose, don't forget to clean the fins underneath or behind your refrigerator. These often get overlooked, get very dusty and your refrigerator will not work as efficiently as it should. Oh yeah, don't forget the bathroom fan needs cleaning; could be a fire hazard if not cleaned regularly. Lots of household advice here today!! bulldogboy

The one with M.F.D. on the hood is probably from Minneapolis, MN.; they had Mack "B" sedan cab pumpers. Later, they purchased pumpers on IH and Ford "Louisville" 4 door chassis. Another department that bought "B" model sedans was Port Jervis, NY. The "squirrel tail" suction hose set-up on the Memphis engine was once popular in the TN and MO. area. It made for a faster drafting operation or to use a hard suction on a hydrant if needed. I never had to hook a hard suction to a hydrant; our hydrant pressure and flow was sufficient for a soft suction hose. bulldogboy

When this classic was in Tunbridge it was privately owned by the late Peter Jorgensen who published a fire apparatus magazine, "Fire Apparatus" I think was the title. He also owned a Mack "CF" that was lettered "Engine 3" but neither of these trucks was owned by the Tunbridge Fire Department. I'm sure that someone on these forums will fill us in on the history of this beautiful truck. That's the great thing about these forums; there is always someone with the correct answer. bulldogboy

That's what I thought when I saw the red light on the roof; is (or was) this a rural fire department tanker? bulldogboy

Mack fire truck designations usually had to do with the pump size; e.g. B85s and C85s had 750 GPM pumps, B95s and C95s had 1,000 GPM pumps, and B & C 125s had 1,250 GPM pumps. These models were usually gassers but later were available with diesel engines. "The B-52s" were also a rock group; "Love Shack", etc. bulldogboy

I thought that maybe the other trucks had bodies built by someone else but I wondered why Harvey Eckart would use a Mack/non-Mack on the cover of his book. Mack certainly knows better than me how many trucks they built. It would be great if Millwood could get this truck back some day. I always like when a fire department maintains one (or more) of their old Mack fire trucks. bulldogboy

72U685ST: Thanks for the update, please keep us updated on the Aerialscope's future. bulldogboy

General Ike: I've seen pictures of that Millwood Mack before; that's an impressive truck. On the cover of Harvey Eckart's book, "Mack Model B Fire Trucks" there is a picture of a tandem axle "B" model pumper built for the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft plant in Florida. On page 115 of the same book there is a photo of a semi-cab, tandem axle "B" model pumper built for McCandless Township, PA. Marsh Harbour Fire Brigade in the Bahamas has a 1958 tandem axle "B" model pumper. There is a photo of it on Marsh Harbour's website; the Mack is still lettered for the Maidstone Fire Department (?). Good luck with your endeavors in obtaining this truck. bulldogboy

Bigdog: Nashua Motor Express; still in business and still running "R" and "U" model tractors. I think that their newest tractor is a "CH". bulldogboy

72U685ST: I see that Millbury put its new Pierce tower into service. Did Charlton buy your Aerialscope? bulldogboy

Bigdog: Is that like in Nashua Corporation or something else from Nashua, NH? Nashua Corporation ran Macks years ago. bulldogboy