Mack factories

[james j neiweem 775]

Allentown plant 5C is mentioned from time to time on this site. How many plants were in Allentown. How close were they to each other. What was produced in each plant, What was produced in the New Jersey plants. How big were the plants in comparison to Macungie and Maryland plants

[j hancock 13,667]

This brochure is on ebay and gives a little idea of three plants. Not super clear but it might help. Date 1948.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-Mack-C41-C45-Transit-Bus-Ad-Factory-Plant-wj3018-K9AONX-/350733827894?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a95d7f36

[james j neiweem 775]

I probably should have put this in the antique classic section. From the looks of that Bus brochure those factories seemed to be immence.

[farmer52 2,268]

Plant 5C is mentioned in this Wikipedia thread as being located near the Allentown Queen City Airport.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allentown_Queen_City_Municipal_Airport

I also saw mention of Plant 4 and Plant 10. I did a web search on Allentown and Mack and found nothing showing any plants. Seems strange with the Mack heritage in Allentown there are no pictures of the plants. Perhaps someone will provide some information and pics.

[vision386 3,791]

Plainfield,NJ was a drivetrain/powertrain facility,shut down in October 1961 due to a labor dispute between the workers there and Mack,the powertrain factory was relocated to Hagerstown,MD in early 1962. Both Somerville,NJ and Bridgewater,NJ were both parts distribution centers...........................Mark

[kscarbel 651]

The former Mack plants in Long Island City, New York; Plainfield and New Brunswick, New Jersey; Hayward, California; Oakville, Canada and also the master parts distribution centers in Bridgewater, New Jersey and Antwerp, Belgium are now so often forgotten.

[kscarbel 651]

Plainfield,NJ was a drivetrain/powertrain facility,shut down in October 1961 due to a labor dispute between the workers there and Mack,the powertrain factory was relocated to Hagerstown,MD in early 1962.

Both Somerville,NJ and Bridgewater,NJ were both parts distribution centers

The labor dispute didn't cause the relocation to Hagerstown. The labor dispute was the result of the decision to relocate powertrain production to Hagerstown, Maryland. Many New Jersey employees understandably didn't want to relocate to Western Maryland.

Their was only one PDC, in Bridgewater Township. Somerville was originally under Bridgewater Township so the two location names were interchangeably used.

[fifth wheel 559]

When in PA I have visited the former Mack Plants 4 and 5C, not sure where Plant 10 is but have some idea. Plants 4 and 5C are just about one mile apart. You can locate them with Google maps;

Plant 4 .Allentown PA, between S 10th St., Harrison St., and S 8th St.

Plant 5C, Allentown PA, between S 12th ST., W. Tioga St., and Mack Blvd.

Jack Mack's grave is in the Fairview Cemetery , close to Plant 4.

FW

[james j neiweem 775]

Looked at Bing maps and both buildings for plant 4 and 5C seem to still be there. Looks like they have had a cosmetic makeover. Not sure what they are used for now. One looks like it has a huge array of solar power on the roof.

[kscarbel 651]

Looked at Bing maps and both buildings for plant 4 and 5C seem to still be there. Looks like they have had a cosmetic makeover. Not sure what they are used for now. One looks like it has a huge array of solar power on the roof.

Westport Axle is located at Allentown's Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, in the former Mack Trucks Plant 4* in south Allentown.

* Mack Plant 4, built in 1926 to assemble truck chassis and paint truck bodies, was closed in 1984.

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/26449-who-got-the-contract-to-build-mack-chassis/

[fifth wheel 559]

I went to the former Bridgewater Parts Distribution Center a few years ago, a massive building. It can be found on Google maps as well. US 22 S, N Gaston Ave., N Adamsville Rd. the helicopter pad is visible as shown in Montville's book. The business there now shows Baker and Taylor.

I also went to the former Plainfield NJ factories and have been told recently one of the buildings has been razed.

FW

[farmer52 2,268]

Wikipedia states 5C was near the Queen City Airport and later used by General Electric. In 1962 the GE plant was closed and it was returned to the city. Did the city return it to Mack?

With the end of the war in 1945, aircraft production was shut down. Plant 5C was returned to Mack Trucks and the remainder of the facility was declared surplus by the War Assets Administration. The property was obtained by General Electric to manufacture small appliances, particularly toasters. In 1962 the facility again was closed and the property was obtained by the city. ^[5]

^{^ Allentown 1762-1987 A 225-Year History, Volume Two, 1921-1987. Mahlon H. Hellerich, editor, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987}

[bbigrig 455]

Don't Forget Oakville Assembly.......

I see he edited in the missing plants after this was posted.

[j hancock 13,667]

Hayward, CA also.

[rickykarenpr 9]

I have the video in my cellphone in spanish

[Mack 3P 80]

Wikipedia states 5C was near the Queen City Airport and later used by General Electric. In 1962 the GE plant was closed and it was returned to the city. Did the city return it to Mack?

With the end of the war in 1945, aircraft production was shut down. Plant 5C was returned to Mack Trucks and the remainder of the facility was declared surplus by the War Assets Administration. The property was obtained by General Electric to manufacture small appliances, particularly toasters. In 1962 the facility again was closed and the property was obtained by the city. ^[5]

^{^ Allentown 1762-1987 A 225-Year History, Volume Two, 1921-1987. Mahlon H. Hellerich, editor, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987}

A portion of Plant 4 is now http://www.lehighvalleygrandprix.com/ They have old pictures of the plant hung up.

5C is now http://merchantssquaremall.com/

[Quickfarms 527]

Where was the Hayward CA factory?

[Lmackattack 1,074]

Where was the Hayward CA factory?

can't remember the location buy I recall it being a boat factory before Mack bought it?

[j hancock 13,667]

It may have been at what is now the Gillig bus factory at 25800 Clawiter in Hayward.

[mackdaddy 934]

I know it was right next to the existing Hayward airport.

[mackdaddy 934]

Okay, funny but true story about Mack Hayward. And the one about Zenon bringing the bulldog fountain that pumped voldka out his mouth will have to wait. But my friend Gary Bruseau..........his brother drove the Mack Christmas tree truck the last few years. Gary bought a new R700 with a Detroit in it and picked it up at the Hayward factory. On the drive home he noticed it wasn't handling well. after further investigation he noticed the frame was racked......in that it was a few inches longer on one side than the other. He took it back to the dealer and they wouldn't do anything about it. After several weeks of complaining and no action he finally went back to the Mack factory in Hayward and drove it right up the steps to the admin office..........got out and went to the receptionist who by then was surrounded by security. He demanded to see the manager who finally did show up. They took the truck back and rebuilt it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Superdog 5,906]

When I would go Hayward with Grandpa to pick up new trucks for our local dealer,they used to fly us into Oakland if I remember right. Then we had to ride BART partway and then catch a taxi to the plant. The staging and piggybacking area was such a different sight there than at Allentown. Multi color paint jobs,dual chrome stacks, aluminum tanks and wheels,Superliners and Valueliners with bunks. At Allentown it would be rows of red,white or green F,R and U models with spoke wheels and painted fuel tanks & bumpers.

[Superdog 5,906]

Another thing about picking up new ones I remember well is they only had enough fuel in the lead truck to get you to the nearest fuel stop,and they always had one tank shut off.

[vision386 3,791]

My Dad flew out to Portland,OR to pick up his new 1972 White-Freightliner,he said it had less than a gallon of fuel in it when he picked it up!........................Mark

[kscarbel 651]

When I would go Hayward with Grandpa to pick up new trucks for our local dealer.......The staging and piggybacking area was such a different sight there than at Allentown. Multi color paint jobs,dual chrome stacks, aluminum tanks and wheels,Superliners and Valueliners with bunks. At Allentown it would be rows of red,white or green F,R and U models with spoke wheels and painted fuel tanks & bumpers.

While Allentown models received Dupont paint finishes, Hayward production received Sherwin-Williams paint.