I need some help finding an old MACK part!

[eastendpowerstroke]

Need help in finding this hood ornament (the dog and nameplate/trim) for a friend of mine at Columbia Eng#1, Oceanside N.Y. for a '47 Mack that they re-acquired and have restored to original condition as it was when they sold it years ago and are going to use as a parade vehicle. I'm sure there has to be one of these lying around somewhere out here, lets find it. If anybody want the whole story I'll post it.

[OHNO60]

EAST TRY 610 709-3030. THATS THE MACK TRUCKS "SPECS" DEPARTMENT AT THE ALLENTOWN HEADQUARTERS.THEY KEEP ALL THE BUILD RECORDS FOR THEIR TRUCKS.MIGHT GET LUCKY AND HAVE AN OLD BAST@!D STILL THERE. ANTHONY

[OHNO60]

EAST TRY 610 709-3030. THATS THE MACK TRUCKS "SPECS" DEPARTMENT AT THE ALLENTOWN HEADQUARTERS.THEY KEEP ALL THE BUILD RECORDS FOR THEIR TRUCKS.MIGHT GET LUCKY AND HAVE AN OLD BAST@!D STILL THERE. ANTHONY

[Jeff Adema]

Oooohhh!! I used to work for a Mack dealer back in Ontario. I love the damn things, I'm still proud to wear my Mack winter coat to work, even if it gets funny looks. What is that, a B model or something smaller yet?

[LARRY BRUDZYNSKI]

David I found one on ebay, it looks like the one your looking for. You better hurry though, there is only 14 hrs left.

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-CHROM...sQ5fAccessories

[eastendpowerstroke]

The bulldog's the easy part the dog is basicly the same as any other truck it's realy the hood trim thats not so easy to find.

heres the story.

It started innocently enough. A couple of senior members ( Fred Robinson, Bill Lynch, and Paul Facella)

talking about the “old times” and sharing stories of times past. Invariably, it included the trucks of that time

and place and how much fun they were back then. In this case, a beloved 1947 Mack. It was a dinner of the

membership of Columbia Engine Company No. 1 of the Oceanside Fire Department. Those members

reminiscing about times long gone, made a decision that night, one that they would soon be involved with,

to see if they could locate this particular truck.

This truck, a 1947 Model 45S, Chassis # 45S-1378 was built in Allentown Pennsylvania. It was

completed on November 12, 1947 and towed to the Mack facility at the time, located on Long Island. There

it was completed for service, with the addition of specific firefighting equipment being installed. This

included a 200 gpm pump with a 400 gallon tank. One of the features of the truck, was 3 booster lines, one

on each side of the truck as well as the rear. This was especially needed for the many grass fires in the salt

marshes that were quite prevalent during those years. It was sold to the Oceanside Fire District on February

3, 1948. At that point, it was given to Columbia Engine Company and complimented its 1930 LaFrance

pumper which was already in service.

The new Mack was replacing a 1927 Larabee which had been in service at the time, for 20 years.

The new Mack served with distinction for the next 12 years, being replaced in 1959 with a new Approved

Fire truck, made locally in Island Park New York. The fate of the 47 Mack, like so many other trucks, was

sketchy at best, the rumor was that it was sold off to Bohemia Fire Dept. located out east on Long Island.

With that bit of information, the group started working the phones to see if they could locate the truck. What

they did not realize, was the timing of this adventure could not have been more fortuitous.

Calls to Bohemia were answered, and we found out , through Commissioner Alan Behounek, that the

truck served another 17 years and then was sold to a department in Florida. But where? Again, using old

fashioned digging for information and with help from Bohemia, it was determined that the truck was with

the Highlands Volunteer Fire Company. Some correspondence back and forth, and lo and behold, we

located our truck.

It seems that the Highlands group was equally enamored with the 47 Mack, and gave us their history.

They did receive it in 1973 as there was a need to form the Highlands Volunteer Fire Dept by the founders

of the community. Their rational was obvious, they had a bad house fire and a loss of life with a recent

incident. They needed to do something.

A number of charter members, two specifically, Si Bolles and William McCarthy (both later to become

the departments first chief and Department president) traveled to a Tampa auction yard and purchased the

Mack with $1500.00 of donated contributions. It was then stationed on a vacant lot across from the Chief’s

house, and leased to the county in late 1973. The County then built a fire station on a lot donated by a local

developer. The truck was then painted yellow (which was the “in” color at the time) and remained in service

until about

1980-81. At that time, the county purchased the department its first E1 1980 pumper. The Mack was then

put out to pasture, a well deserved time out after serving 3 departments for a total of 33 years.

At that point, once again, a group of individuals (Don Story, Steven Story, Marty Story and others) kept

the truck in operating shape and used it for various events and details. Then in 1988, a more formal

committee was established of younger members with the goal of restoring the truck back to original shape.

With the help of two local auto body painters , it was restored back to it’s original red color. It kept going to

events, including Santa riding at Christmas time and continued until 2005, officially in service. At that point

the county was going to a paid combination department. This resulted in no more funds available for the

Mack to offset insurance and upkeep.

Once again, the membership, concerned about the trucks fate, wanted to see it go to a museum or

suitable home, preferably its original home. The irony of this story is the timing. The Columbia team

managed to find Highlands, just as they were struggling to figure out what to do with it. The timing was

perfect! By October 5, 2006 the 47 Mack was flat bedded to New York. After almost 50 years, it was home.

Although it ran, it was in need of some serious renovation, and the Columbia team jumped into the task

with both time and donated dollars. Many individual vendors gave, donated, or discounted their products

and services to help bring the Mack back to its glory. Steve Owen, a former Lieutenant of Columbia

spearheaded the restoration project almost single handily. After a few months, the engine died and the quest

to find a suitable replacement which would be historically correct was launched. This was done only after

realizing that a total rebuild would be difficult and costly. Brakes, electric, plumbing and a new bed were

just some of the many improvements made. While it is still a “work in progress” nonetheless, the Mack is

back home and the pride of Engine 1 once again.