And a lot of rigs such as the early Mack CFs and American LaFrance pumpers and Ladders had enclosed cabs with No A/C. As a buff I rode with Eng 41, Eng 92, Eng 232 (RIP), Ladder 176 and inside that cab was like sitting next to a hot furnace on a hot day. And I had no gear on. Man, it was hot. In fact, in an effort to beat the heat, that's when the FDNY first decided to go to painting the roof of the cabs white. Hoping that the white color would reflect the heat from the cab.
Of course the heat didn't seem to bother me. I was smiles from ear to ear to be able to ride with these guys.
And I can relate to the tiller with opening the doors. We had a tiller (Tractor Drawn Aerial Ladder is what they are called today. I was corrected by a one year rookie on the job that I was using the Wrong Terminology) and opening the doors on both sides worked out great as far as I was concerned. I loved doing that job. And by the way, the views from up above were great too. Like when we stopped for a traffic light and a young lady was stopped next us. "H & L 147" probadly knows exactly what I'm talking about.