History of the Rearmounts

[Darrell]

When did the Dept start using them, and what was the first unit to get one.

Side Question: Anyone know about the unit desginated "Ladder Tower 1" the photo is lost to me but it definitley wasn't a TL. It was a RMA but looked to have a longer ariel then most RMA's of the 70's.

 

[vikingegfd]

Are you talking about the Mack "c" chassis with a marguis ladder?

 

[Darrell]

Are you talking about the Mack "c" chassis with a marguis ladder?

I believe so

 

[NikFDNY]

From what I can tell
The department bought it in 1969 off a trade show display floor. It was assigned SL6906 to Ladder Company 15. By 1970 they had already received at least 15 Rearmounts.

 

[gym]

As stated above, the first two rear mounts were on a Mack C chassis and had 146 foot aerial ladders. The next two were demonstrator models purchased in 1969 from American LaFrance and Seagrave.

 

[1261Truckie]

"Are you talking about the Mack "c" chassis with a marguis ladder?"; "I believe so"

The 2 Mack-Magirus Model "C" rearmounted 144 ft. aerials were 1961 models. When delivered they were assigned to Ladders 13 (Reg # 455) and 24 (Reg # 456) as their regular apparatus. #455 was subsequently designated High Ladder 1 and quartered with E-21. #456 was designated High Ladder 2 and quartered with E-324 (for the World's Fair). It was later assigned to L-119 (in order to make room for the Super Pumper and Tender)).
Both rigs had the 144 ft aerials replaced in 1969 with Grove 100 ft aerials. #455 was assigned to TCU 731 then to L-171 while #456 was assigned to TCU 712, then to L-164 and finally to the Training School.

 

[firebuffkevin]

FDNY ALF Rearmount Photo by Pete Lund 1969 100 ft. American La France T.C.U. 732
AL 6905

 

[firebuffkevin]

Best I could do on the 1969 Seagrave.

Listed by Fire replicas as

FDNY LADDER 27-2 - 1969 SEAGRAVE 100' REAR ADMIRAL - BRONX​

 

[firebuffkevin]

"Are you talking about the Mack "c" chassis with a marguis ladder?"; "I believe so"

The 2 Mack-Magirus Model "C" rearmounted 144 ft. aerials were 1961 models. When delivered they were assigned to Ladders 13 (Reg # 455) and 24 (Reg # 456) as their regular apparatus. #455 was subsequently designated High Ladder 1 and quartered with E-21. #456 was designated High Ladder 2 and quartered with E-324 (for the World's Fair). It was later assigned to L-119 (in order to make room for the Super Pumper and Tender)).
Both rigs had the 144 ft aerials replaced in 1969 with Grove 100 ft aerials. #455 was assigned to TCU 731 then to L-171 while #456 was assigned to TCU 712, then to L-164 and finally to the Training School.

[Photo Credits: Donated by Lenny Salamone (ret.) Ladder 119].

 

[firebuffkevin]

 

[tom113]

"Are you talking about the Mack "c" chassis with a marguis ladder?"; "I believe so"

The 2 Mack-Magirus Model "C" rearmounted 144 ft. aerials were 1961 models. When delivered they were assigned to Ladders 13 (Reg # 455) and 24 (Reg # 456) as their regular apparatus. #455 was subsequently designated High Ladder 1 and quartered with E-21. #456 was designated High Ladder 2 and quartered with E-324 (for the World's Fair). It was later assigned to L-119 (in order to make room for the Super Pumper and Tender)).
Both rigs had the 144 ft aerials replaced in 1969 with Grove 100 ft aerials. #455 was assigned to TCU 731 then to L-171 while #456 was assigned to TCU 712, then to L-164 and finally to the Training School.

Prior to FDNY, I worked in Midtown. I remember the rig. L24 had. It had the loudest air horn of any rig I ever heard.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

To replace aerial ladders on two Mack B85 Special chassis the Chicago Fire Department purchased 2 Magirus 146' units from FDNY. They were assigned to Trucks 3 and 39.

 

[68jk09]

As stated the two Mack Magirus 144' RMs were technically the first RMs in the FDNY....the two '69 Demos were the first factory built FDNY 100' RMs ....the oddity of these two was that the '69 ALF was originally Maroon in color (later repainted RED by our Shops) ...not sure about the Transmission in the '69 Seagrave but the '69 ALF had a Manual Transmission .....they both had enclosed Cabs for the Officer & Chauf. & two rear facing roofed over Bucket seats & the remaining FFs stood.....starting in 1970 the FDNY started purchasing Seagrave 100' RMs that had fully enclosed Cab / Crew seating & had Automatic Transmission's ....a short while later our Shops cut out a compartment midway down the Officer's side & constructed the rear seat facing Phone Booth ....Seagrave shortly after incorporated this into their production model RM's for the FDNY....RMs continued to be built like this for several years until after the Manning was cut back & then the Phone Booth addition was eliminated on future new models..... as far as Tiller Rigs they were Manual Transmissions up until the '68 ALFs were received they as well as all future Tiller Rigs were Automatic's....Tower Ladders remained Manual Transmission's well into the '70s up until ?.

 

[E812]

Wheel Of The Bravest is another excellent book done by John Calderone & the late Jack Lerch

 

[1261Truckie]

As stated the two Mack Magirus 144' RMs were technically the first RMs in the FDNY....the two '69 Demos were the first factory built FDNY 100' RMs ....the oddity of these two was that the '69 ALF was originally Maroon in color (later repainted RED by our Shops) ...not sure about the Transmission in the '69 Seagrave but the '69 ALF had a Manual Transmission .....they both had enclosed Cabs for the Officer & Chauf. & two rear facing roofed over Bucket seats & the remaining FFs stood.....starting in 1970 the FDNY started purchasing Seagrave 100' RMs that had fully enclosed Cab / Crew seating & had Automatic Transmission's ....a short while later our Shops cut out a compartment midway down the Officer's side & constructed the rear seat facing Phone Booth ....Seagrave shortly after incorporated this into their production model RM's for the FDNY....RMs continued to be built like this for several years until after the Manning was cut back & then the Phone Booth addition was eliminated on future new models..... as far as Tiller Rigs they were Manual Transmissions up until the '68 ALFs were received they as well as all future Tiller Rigs were Automatic's....Tower Ladders remained Manual Transmission's well into the '70s up until ?.

Chief,
The transmission on the ‘69 Seagrave was, to the best of my recollection, a standard. I don’t know when the towers went automatic.

 

[gym]

According to Wheels of the Bravest, the five tower ladders delivered in 1978 were the first FDNY towers with automatic transmissions.

 

[Captain784]

I saw the High Ladder used only once. I was a Buff. in Ladder Co. 3 on E. 13trh St. near Union Square, Manhattan in the Middle 1960s. I was at the quarters of Ladder 3 when they responded to box 598 at W.23 St. and Broadway, for what was originally, reported as a fire in a building on W.22 St. The fire was also in the Cellar of a Wholesale Drug Store, called Wonder Drugs, on w. 23 St. A major fire and major collapse took the lives of 12 FDNY Firemen and Injured many more. The High Ladder was special called to the fire I believe to give an elevated view of the fire building and
area. Naturally at that time there was no drones and even no Helicopter "Air Recon" Chiefs. So, a Chief or other officer on the top of a 144 Ft. High Ladder was what was used. I think the High Ladder was L-119, that at that time was quartered with E-219 and the Super Pumper and Super Pumper Tender near the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Williamsburg. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired