Chicago Ridge Fire Department history

This from Mike Summa for #TBT:

For TBT-Chicago Ridge Squad 6505, a 1976 Mack CF/Pirsch 1000/500

Mike Summa

Mike Summa photo

Tags: #TBT, 1976 Mack CF/Pirsch 1000/500, Chicago Ridge Fire Department history, Mike Summa, throw back thursday, throwbackthursday, vintage fire engine photo

This entry was posted on April 16, 2020, 7:00 AM and is filed under Fire Department History, Historic fire apparatus, throwbackthursday. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Comments

#1 by Joe Smith on April 16, 2020 - 4:54 PM

Not every technological advance is necessarily an improvement. With fire apparatus, reliability is of paramount importance. Yes, closed cabs with all members seated and belted have made the job safer and was clearly a change for the better. It is questionable whether mechanical linkage vs. electronic valve controls, hard wired vs. multiplexed electrical components, heavy duty components vs. light weight, etc. truly represent a step forward. In days of $30 or $40K pumpers, 20 to 30 years of service was common. Replacement parts were readily available. Today we have million dollar apparatus, recommended 12 year replacement cycles, and widespread budget issues. It looks like we are headed for a brick wall.
#2 by CrabbyMilton on April 16, 2020 - 11:55 AM

Yeah these dagnam electric starters and autermatic transmission gismo’s and we didn’t have AC in them cabs neither… 🙂
MACK did have a couple of solid custom chassis rigs and that particular model lasted until 1990 when MACK exited the business.
#3 by Mike C on April 16, 2020 - 10:16 AM

Looking back at older apparatus it’s interesting to see how technology has advanced and changed. Look at those huge flood lights that produced subpar lighting and sucked a ton of juice off of a generator or inverter, where as todays lighting is LED straight off an inverter and the coverage is much better. The air horns on the roof. The body design on this rig is also very unique. While I’m sure we can all agree, Mack made great fire apparatus in the day, the current rigs are safer, more emission friendly, and technologically advanced. These Macks were great because they were simple. Hardwired electric, no computers, no power windows, and no electronic valves. The flashing lights were old school relays where as today they’re mostly on the multiplex systems. I like the simplicity of older apparatus but also appreciate the advancements in todays.