About the St. Louis City R Models
St. Louis City ordered 12 of the Mack R Model pumpers and took delivery of
them between April and June of 1968. The 12 trucks were identical, with
Serial Numbers of R608F(10)-1004 through R608F(10)-1015. The trucks
were equipped with Mack 707C gasoline engines, Mack 5 speed direct
manual transmissions, 1000GPM Waterous pumps, 300 gallon steel booster
tanks, a single hose reel mounted on the captain’s side, suction on the left,
right and rear, four 1 ½ “ discharge lines and a top mount deck gun.
Emergency warning equipment included a Tripp-Lite 3-sealed beam rotator,
twin Mack/Unity stationary cowl-mounted lights, twin Unity spot lights, a
driver's side mounted chrome side-mount bell, twin trumpet single mount
Grover air horns and a B&M Manufacturing CS8B mechanical siren. The
Mack's also featured 9.00-20 tires on dayton-style rims, air brakes, "maxi"
can parking brakes, manual Mack driveshaft parking brakes and manual
steering. These trucks were St. Louis City’s last commercial cab pumpers
and the last apparatus purchased that required crew to ride the tailboard on
responses.
The St. Louis City R Model order is believed to be the largest single order of
Mack R Model pumpers by any one department. By the time the Mack R
Model was released as a fire service chassis, most urban departments were
looking towards custom cab chassis or Mack's CF600 cab forward chassis
for improved turning radius, increased crew seating and decreased overall
length.
Although there was a significant industry shift to diesel powered apparatus,
Mack offered its long-running 707 gasoline engine in the R model chassis
until 1973. While the Mack diesel engines were more popular in the R model
fire chassis, ultimately 61 Mack R models were built with the 707C gasoline
inline 6 engine, producing 273hp at 2400 rpm from its 707 cubic inch
displacement. The 707C also featured dual ignition, including dual coils,
distributors and spark plug systems. The driver could choose to run the
engine on the left ignition, right ignition or both as an added measure of
safety.
The St. Louis City R Models did not feature hard suction draft hose, nor did
they have any on-board accommodations for SCBA (self-contained
breathing apparatus), notably marking their production date to the end of an
earlier era of firefighting.
The St. Louis City R Models were taken out of front-line service at various
times. It is believed that there was at least one in front line service until 1987
at which time 8 of the units were sold to Harry Harless Fire Apparatus in
Birmingham, AL. Of those 8 sold to the dealer, 2 are confirmed in junk yards
and one remained in full service as of 2007.
Engine 32 remained as Reserve 32 up until at least September of 1990
according to daily apparatus inspection documents found in the cab. It was
last in service as Reserve 32 and stored at Engine 11’s and 16’s on 7th and
Shennandoah.
St. Louis City ordered 12 of the Mack R Model pumpers and took delivery of
them between April and June of 1968. The 12 trucks were identical, with
Serial Numbers of R608F(10)-1004 through R608F(10)-1015. The trucks
were equipped with Mack 707C gasoline engines, Mack 5 speed direct
manual transmissions, 1000GPM Waterous pumps, 300 gallon steel booster
tanks, a single hose reel mounted on the captain’s side, suction on the left,
right and rear, four 1 ½ “ discharge lines and a top mount deck gun.
Emergency warning equipment included a Tripp-Lite 3-sealed beam rotator,
twin Mack/Unity stationary cowl-mounted lights, twin Unity spot lights, a
driver's side mounted chrome side-mount bell, twin trumpet single mount
Grover air horns and a B&M Manufacturing CS8B mechanical siren. The
Mack's also featured 9.00-20 tires on dayton-style rims, air brakes, "maxi"
can parking brakes, manual Mack driveshaft parking brakes and manual
steering. These trucks were St. Louis City’s last commercial cab pumpers
and the last apparatus purchased that required crew to ride the tailboard on
responses.
The St. Louis City R Model order is believed to be the largest single order of
Mack R Model pumpers by any one department. By the time the Mack R
Model was released as a fire service chassis, most urban departments were
looking towards custom cab chassis or Mack's CF600 cab forward chassis
for improved turning radius, increased crew seating and decreased overall
length.
Although there was a significant industry shift to diesel powered apparatus,
Mack offered its long-running 707 gasoline engine in the R model chassis
until 1973. While the Mack diesel engines were more popular in the R model
fire chassis, ultimately 61 Mack R models were built with the 707C gasoline
inline 6 engine, producing 273hp at 2400 rpm from its 707 cubic inch
displacement. The 707C also featured dual ignition, including dual coils,
distributors and spark plug systems. The driver could choose to run the
engine on the left ignition, right ignition or both as an added measure of
safety.
The St. Louis City R Models did not feature hard suction draft hose, nor did
they have any on-board accommodations for SCBA (self-contained
breathing apparatus), notably marking their production date to the end of an
earlier era of firefighting.
The St. Louis City R Models were taken out of front-line service at various
times. It is believed that there was at least one in front line service until 1987
at which time 8 of the units were sold to Harry Harless Fire Apparatus in
Birmingham, AL. Of those 8 sold to the dealer, 2 are confirmed in junk yards
and one remained in full service as of 2007.
Engine 32 remained as Reserve 32 up until at least September of 1990
according to daily apparatus inspection documents found in the cab. It was
last in service as Reserve 32 and stored at Engine 11’s and 16’s on 7th and
Shennandoah.
St. Louis City Fire Dept's
1968 Mack R-Model Pumpers
1968 Mack R-Model Pumpers
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