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
stationary cowl-mounted 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
stationary cowl-mounted 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.
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