Open Cab Firetrucks
Contributed by
Howard Aubrey
Question on alt.firefighters:
Does anybody know why firetrucks used to come without a roof?
When I got on the job our oldest piece was a 1958 Mack. I loved the idea of
driving a truck that was actually older than I was. It was an open cab, and we
called the steering 'armstrong' steering, because it was so freakin difficult to steer! It came with a full cab but the chief at the time thought it was 'wimpy' for firefighters to be protected from the elements so
he had it cut off! They tell me it cost $2000 bucks to do it (a lot of
money back then). It was a reserve piece when I got on, and ideal for driver training.
It was in service one night when I was assigned as the driver during one of those torrential, numerous call summer storm nights. It was raining so hard the wipers couldn't keep up and I remember half-standing so I could see over the
windshield. I had the door open so the water could run out.
One of the best memories of my career, wouldn't trade it for anything (well, maybe not anything :) )
HJA
When I got on the job our oldest piece was a 1958 Mack. I loved the idea of driving a truck that was actually older than I was. It was an open cab, and we called the steering 'armstrong' steering, because it was so freakin difficult to steer! It came with a full cab but the chief at the time thought it was 'wimpy' for firefighters to be protected from the elements so he had it cut off! They tell me it cost $2000 bucks to do it (a lot of money back then). It was a reserve piece when I got on, and ideal for driver training.
It was in service one night when I was assigned as the driver during one of those torrential, numerous call summer storm nights. It was raining so hard the wipers couldn't keep up and I remember half-standing so I could see over the
windshield. I had the door open so the water could run out.
One of the best memories of my career, wouldn't trade it for anything (well, maybe not anything :) )
HJA
HJA