During World War II, all major manufacturing facilities had all converted to wartime production efforts to produce everything from ammunition to tanks, including the fire apparatus category. Municipalities were forced to use and repair their existing fire fighting equipment without any foreseeable knowledge of future replacement. As the war finally came to closure, a massive backlog of orders flooded into all American fire apparatus manufactures in 1946, with some cities looking to replace entire fleets! American-LaFrance, Seagrave, Ahrens-Fox, and Mack became huge benefactors of this demand once back into full peacetime production. Mack Trucks found one of their most popular models to be the Model 45, a 500 gallon-per-minute pumper, powered by their own extremely reliable 6-cylinder engine. It was offered in both open and closed cabs.

We are proud to offer this 1946 Mack Model 45 Triple Combination Closed-Cab Pumper finished in traditional fire engine red over a beige vinyl interior. This very special example spent the majority of its work life in Maryland, with its most recent known history as part of the Linkwood- Salem Volunteer Fire Department on the eastern side of Maryland in Dorchester County. It would depart their fleet, generally out of practical use, retired to a field awaiting a compassionate restoration by a new owner. In about 2001, it would be sent to Dick Beavers of Patriot Fire LLC in Grasonville, Maryland for complete restoration and refurbishment by his professional staff. As one of the east coast's largest distributors of new E-ONE and Fraser EMS equipment, they are an elite retailer of emergency response vehicles, not to mention repair, overhaul, and maintenance to keep them in top operating condition!

This Mack would be treated to a complete overhaul and restoration to restore it to top physical condition, as well as be a fully functional pumper once again. Sparing no expense, it would be torn down to its chassis, repainted, rewired, and rebuilt entirely! The results are exceptional, even all these years later. It has been parked in the premiere fire collection of retired Fire Chief Larry Gaddis, formerly of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Glen Echo Fire and Bethesda Fire Departments during his long, dedicated career. His passion for firefighting started as a very young boy, continued as a professional adult, and later fulfilled by his vast collection that he used to teach and show new generations past history.

Sadly, Chief Gaddis passed in May 2022 leaving his estate to another local Rockville native. We were pleased to have the opportunity to acquire such a beautiful machine, and showcase it even if it is just temporary. The next owner would be hard-pressed to find such a well-restored specimen ready to use and enjoy however they wish! It is ready to work or play as if it were 1946 all over again! And the Mack engine never disappoints with both power and reliability. Act quickly if you have been looking for a truly special edition to your collection. This one is hard to beat!