ken1946@rcn.com

The life cycle of every industry is the same. They start with a bunch of little guys doing some creative innovative work, the good ones get bigger and acquire the smaller ones who haven't failed and as the industry matures the fewer get even fewer and they get larger and larger until they get so large and unresponsive that innovators can come in and displace them. Andrew Carnegie consolidated a bunch of steel companies in the late 1800's and then sold the whole shootin' match to J. P. Morgan in 1900 for $100,000,000. Bethlehem and US Steel got so big that they have now disappeared. The same went for oil companies(name a small one),electric companies, auto manufacturers, heavy equipment, airplane guys and even shipbuilders. There is no reason to believe that HD Trucks would be immune. These companies are all in business to make money, hopefully for their owners(the shareholders) but if not at least the managers who become multi millionaires when the are terminated. They are only secondarily in the business of building trucks under a brand. Studebaker became Worthington Pump Co. and Baldwin Steam Locomotive works evolved into BLH, Baldwi-Lima-Hamilton and became a big conglomerate. Man alive, is my head filled with worthless trivia or what? Just my $.02

I think that the real reason for the demise of the COE configuration is ththat there are too many OO guys who are too lazy to haul their bulk straight up to climb up into one. A friend had a '91White/GMC non-sleeper with a 330 Cummins and a nine speed with only 180K on her and out of 20 calls he got, 19 gave him that story. I did not need another toy but at $2,500 I couldn't pass it up. I can almost get that for the diamond plate headache rack and tool boxes. That will only leave me with the drivetrain and double wet line setup. Just my $.02

Do you know if it sold and what it ws bid to? That would probably push my wife right over the edge! Ken Irvine, Jr. Bethlehem, Pa

LMACK...If you have a clamp type ammeter..see what the current draw is. If it is high the starter is working hard at turning the engine over...If low engine is OK but look for bad connections in the starter wiring

Some information if you please. As I understand it, maxis are the spring loaded pressure off parking brake actuators. What type of parking brakes are on this unit as built? Thanks

I am Ken Irvine, Jr. from Bethlehem, Pa ( Bethlehem is next door to Allentown, the former World HQ of Mack). I am 17 years old (on the inside...outside is 59 1/2) and have always loved things mechanical. Started life as a mechanic back in the late 50's, got through college and figured out the guys with the ties did not get wet in the winter working on a snow covered vehicle or have sweat running down their face in the summer so I became one. Never lost the connection to the tools though. Largest thing I ever ran (drove?) was a GM Diesel locomotive (I hope the Locomotive shop General Foreman doesn't read this) without permission, but I was young and it wasn't too hard to figure out. I have owned all kinds of goofy equipment like a deal I made once to acquire a Bucyrus Erie Crane, a couple of Euclids and Link Belt 6400 Hydraulic excavator with a 12V92 Detroit that sounded like a symphony when wound up. The Link tipped the scales at 186,000 lbs and the tracks were each 36" wide. Currently floating around are a 1963 Oshkosh airport snow plow, a '91 International with a Calahan Hydraulic 5th wheel. a '98 Mack CH613 tractor, an '06 Pete for my son-in law, and a couple of Titan smooth sided trailers. He does the driving and runs several drivers hauling garbage, coal, and mulch. I like buying big. The genset I got for the house is a 60KW monster with a gas 401 International for power. Switching it over to LP currently. My real idiotic claim to frame is that I actually sold HD Dodge Trucks back in the early '70s. Currently I am the Manager of Becker Subaru in Allentown. Due to a religious consideration, we have no business hours Friday night, Saturday, or thanks to Pa Blue Laws, Sunday. Competeing against dealerships who are open 6 and 7 days per week we were the 4th largest in the nation in 2003, 4th again in 2004, and in 2005 we were 3rd! It is amazing what can be accomplished with low prices! In the last several years I have sold new Subaru car to Walter May And Vince Pelitoni, the men who developed the Maxidyne. I hope my mental deviance meshes with the rest of you. Ken the Polish Boy The Truly Great ones make it look easy...