This from Mike Summa for #TBT:
For #TBT-Mack Fire Trucks were a big part of the fire service. Here are some samples from the 1970s.Mike Summa
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Mack Fire Truck History
#1 by Big Moe on December 8, 2019 - 10:29 AM
Those yellow rigs look like the old Hometown pumpers…at least they remind me of them. They are reported to still be in service in Missouri somewhere.
#2 by Matt on December 7, 2019 - 8:01 AM
Most CF Mack pumpers had bodies built by MACK up to the end of MACK body production.
MB mainly featured bodies built by Hamerly or Howe; MC Series had Mack built bodies for pumpers. Rescues are another story which involves Saulsbury, E-One etc.
Mack ladders could have Hamerly or Conestoga Product bodies ; Conestoga being LTI’s body building operation and this occurred when Mack turned to LTI for sourcing aerials.
Other Mack ladders were built using Thibault ladders once the relationship with Maxim dissolved and prior to the Bulldog aerial being offered. Hamerly handled many projects for Mack when Mack was or not able to do the building. . Ward 79 only took over once Mack did not provide complete apparatus.
#3 by CrabbyMilton on December 6, 2019 - 6:02 AM
I read somewhere that Milwaukee had likely one of the last MACK CF chassis pumpers. MFD’s example was built in 1987-88 had a BARNETT body that was rebuilt by PIERCE in the ’00’s.
They got rid of it about 8 years ago I think.
#4 by BIll Post on December 6, 2019 - 12:51 AM
I would like to make a correction. It was only after 1983 that Mack CF engines were built with Ward ’79 bodies for New York City. The first Ward ’79 bodies were built in 1983 for two of New York Cty’s satellite high volume hose wagons. From 1984 through 1989 the FDNY Mack CF pumpers were built with Ward ’79 bodies. That is when they changed to a white over red paint scheme. Prior to that apparatus was solid red. Those were the last five years that Mack produced the CF cab. They stopped producing their own bodies around 1984/85.
#5 by Bill Post on December 5, 2019 - 11:39 PM
I tend to go with Ward ’79 because New York City, which was probably Mack’s best customer, had most of their Mack CF engines built with Ward ’79 bodies.
I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the CFD in the 1970s and 80s. Aside from the 10 Mack M/B/Howe short wheelbase engines, the 7 Mack/3D Flying Squads, and Snorkel Squad 1’s 1967 rig, the CFD didn’t buy apparatus using the Mack C/F cabs. Chicago later purchased 6 rear mounted Pirsch ladder trucks on the Mack CF, but only one CF model 1,500-GPM pumper. It was initially assigned to Engine 35 and later to Engine 18.
While New York City used the Mack CF almost exclusively, it wasn’t so with Chicago. In the 1950s and 1940’s it was different. Chicago purchased many Mack engines. Their first sedan-style squads were Macks and pumpers from 1938 and 1948 were sedan-style units. This meant they were built with 4-door cabs with a back seat and a front seat.
#6 by MABAS 21 on December 5, 2019 - 7:54 PM
https://www.tnonline.com/2011/jan/31/sonny-kovatch-85-founder-kme-dies
#7 by Crabbymilton on December 5, 2019 - 5:57 PM
That’s interesting. Didn’t know that’s how KME got started.
#8 by MABAS 21 on December 5, 2019 - 5:45 PM
This was on Sonny Kovatch, founder of KME, obituary in 2011.
“In 1985, Mack Trucks discontinued production of fire truck bodies as a result of a poor economic climate. Kovatch purchased the business from Mack and emerged into a full-fledged fire truck manufacturing.”
#9 by Admin on December 5, 2019 - 9:53 PM
Kovatch added custom fire truck chassis by purchasing the Hendrickson fire truck chassis rights and then entered into aerials, first with the Aqua-Stix product acquired from LTI and then the complete aerial product line from Grumman when they exited the fire truck market.
#10 by Joe Smith on December 5, 2019 - 4:27 PM
Most Mack MB pumpers sold by Mack had Howe bodies. Many other manufacturers built apparatus on various Mack chassis.
#11 by Tim on December 5, 2019 - 2:39 PM
Ward 79 did use Mack chassis. FDNY was a big customer.
#12 by Bmurphy on December 5, 2019 - 11:33 AM
What about Ward 79?
#13 by Crabbymilton on December 5, 2019 - 10:24 AM
Yeah KME is part of REV which also owns E-ONE.
KMEONE.
#14 by Tim on December 5, 2019 - 9:54 AM
Partially true…anyone the customer wanted but when you bought an “all Mack” apparatus they came out of a plant in Nesquehoning, PA……..Kovatch Mobile Equipment. Of course KME is not what it used to be.
General is part of Rosenbauer.
#15 by Admin on December 5, 2019 - 9:56 PM
Mack produced their own bodies initially. Kovatch bought the body designs only after Mack wanted to exit the fire truck market and simply produce fire truck chassis.
#16 by Crabbymilton on December 5, 2019 - 9:38 AM
Any body builder the customer wanted.
Or by default GENERAL which may have since became part or SPARTAN.
#17 by Tim on December 5, 2019 - 9:18 AM
Alright boys let’s see who knows what…..and you may end up showing your age with this one.
Who was the body builder for all those Macks back in the day?
Clues are available if asked.
#18 by CrabbyMilton on December 5, 2019 - 7:24 AM
Milwaukee bought several MC’s in the 1980’s since at one time they were a big MACK customer.