Book Review: Mack CF Fire Apparatus of NYCFD

sandero

sandero

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Members and visitors of this forum undoubtedly are familiar with the various publications sold by Fire Apparatus Journal (FAJ).  The FAJ bookstore now includes 12 titles, mostly FDNY related. Their most recent book, added to the collection earlier this year, is titled Mack CF Fire Apparatus of the New York City Fire Department by Jack Calderone. This subject likely will be of major interest to many fire apparatus fans, but for serious FDNY buffs (especially for aging Baby Boomers like myself) it is a must-read. As a kid living in Flushing during the 1960?s and 1970?s I was accustomed to seeing mostly Ward LaFrance engines and ALF tillers. The sleek, modern-looking  CF?s definitely were the ?new kids on the block?, but during ?The War Years? they quickly became the very ?face? of FDNY. CF?s eventually seemed to be everywhere in NYC, and for good reason: FDNY eventually purchased >650 rigs, the largest single CF fleet anywhere. With typically well-crafted text, Mr. Calderone describes every order of the many different types of CF?s that found their way onto the FDNY apparatus roster from 1968 until 1992. In keeping with previous practice in earlier FAJ volumes on FDNY apparatus, company assignments are provided for each registration number. (I always check first to see what rigs were assigned to E315/L125 and E299/L152, my 2 local houses.)    As is typical of all FAJ products, the color photography in this book is absolutely first-rate. Personally, it?s hard for me to look at a CF as a ?historical? rig, because at any apparatus muster, even a partially-restored CF still looks fresh and new in my eyes (perhaps this is just another symptom of advancing age). In closing, Mack CF Fire Apparatus of the New York City Fire Department represents yet another FAJ ?winner?. All FDNY apparatus historians will want a copy on their bookshelf.
 
Now there's a nice thoughtful gift that some nice NYCFIRE.NET member might want to buy for Willy "D".

  If not, those Big Macs will have to take a back seat for now.
 
My wife got me mine for my birthday. The CF's (engine and towers) were real workhorses during the war years. Those rigs just kept going and going....hopefully Chief Calderone will publish a book on the 1970's Seagrave rearmounts and tillers....the workhorses of the aerials.
 
1261Truckie said:
My wife got me mine for my birthday. The CF's (engine and towers) were real workhorses during the war years. Those rigs just kept going and going....hopefully Chief Calderone will publish a book on the 1970's Seagrave rearmounts and tillers....the workhorses of the aerials.
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  I agree those Seagrave Ladders of the 70s were some tough ladder trucks.

  Mack and Seagrave proved to the world what a real fire truck could do during those busy years. And many of them went on to serve depts after that. Providence R.I. put two former FDNY Mack Tower Ladders to work for several years in their busiest ladder companies (Ladders 1 and 2). They got a good workout there after serving the FDNY during the busiest years. I think they were FDNYs Ladders 14 and 114. (or 113 ?)

 
 
My hometown Dept. (Colonia FD), had a refurbed Mack Aerialscope that was a former Brooklyn Tower Ladder, early 70's vintage. They utilized it for 15 years (1985-2000), it was sold and further utilized by another Dept. Overall this Tower Ladder has served for almost 40 years and performs just as well or better than some of the overpriced showpieces that are produced today.
 
I have been told by a friend that 132's Mack CF rearmount was recently sold by the Osceola Mills (PA) FD and is now serving in Argentina. Not bad for a 1982 rig.
 
1261Truckie said:
I have been told by a friend that 132's Mack CF rearmount was recently sold by the Osceola Mills (PA) FD and is now serving in Argentina. Not bad for a 1982 rig.
Click to expand...

  Ladder 132 and Ladder 30 were the only Mack rearmounts FDNY had. They were some tough rigs from what I could tell.

  One volunteer dept in Stamford, Ct is still using a former FDNY Mack Tower Ladder. One other volunteer dept purchased the former FDNY Mack Eng 257 (?), and another bought FDNYs former 70s Seagrave Ladder 109 (?). Both were in use as front line pieces. Then both pieces were given to the Norwich, Ct fire dept where they were used as spares up until only a few years ago. I believe I have pictures of both.
 
"Providence R.I. put two former FDNY Mack Tower Ladders to work for several years in their busiest ladder companies (Ladders 1 and 2). They got a good workout there after serving the FDNY during the busiest years. I think they were FDNYs Ladders 14 and 114. (or 113 ?)"
One of them was Ladder 13's 1972 Mack Tower Ladder which I believe was Ladder 2.
 
That is correct. It was Ladder 13 that Providence bought. I think the other was TL 114.
 
The first Ladder I acquired for my department (Celina Fire/EMS TN) was reported to be old Ladder 16 FDNY! It was a 78-79 100 ft Seagrave. It was bought by Northern Fire Equipment and refurbed then sold to Bullhead City, AZ. I acquired it from them in 2003 and we used it until we replaced it with an 86 Hahn 104 ft. The old Seagrave kept on going and is in service with the Sparta TN FD!

 
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