The 1931 Mack Type 19 Pumping Engine was purchased by the City of San Jose as a result of the devastating Courthouse Fire on May 18, 1931.
The same night of the fire, the City Council met and directed the Clerk to seek bids for a brand new fire engine. On June 8, 1931 the Mack International Motor Truck Corporation bid of $12,500 was accepted by the City Council.
Placed into service after an astounding acceptance test on June 18, 1931 , the 31 Mack served the city for 43 years of front line duty. Originally assigned to station #1, it remained at Market Street for the next six years. The 31 Mack was then moved to station #2 in January of 1937 after being replaced by the new 1937 American LaFrance Pumper. It remained at #2 until June of 1954. After leaving station#2 it was used as a reserve pumper for the next 20 years, primarily assigned to station #4.
The Mack’s first significant fire was the Beauty Box fire located at 17 East San Antonio . The blaze threatened the Curtis Hotel , but was brought under control with the help of the new pumper.
The last fire call was in April of 1971. This fire was a single-family dwelling located at 89 South 11 th Street.
The Mack was taken completely out of active firefighting service in June of 1974 and was assigned to the San Jose Fire Muster Team. With the help of the Fire Department Shop and the devoted Muster Team volunteers, the Mack was restored to its current state by September 1974.
While no longer used to fight fires, it still actively serves the community to this day. One of several operating apparatus of the San Jose Fire Museum , this rig is the workhorse of the vast collection. With just a little wear and tear from decades of service, this dutiful pumper is used for everything from parades to public education. Sometimes when retired firefighters die their caskets are carried to the cemetery in the hose bed of this engine. This apparatus has been so durable it has outlived most of the men who fought fire with it.
ENGINE:Mack Type-19 chassis is powered with a Mack manufactured 150 brake horsepower fire department engine, six cylinder, L -head type, with flat valves, counterbalanced crankshaft, bearings case-hardened.
OIL SYSTEM: Double-decked gear oil pump, filter, force feed and plash to main, connecting rod and cam shaft bearings.
COOLING: Mack-built radiator mounted in rubber Shock Insulators. Enclosed type auxiliary cooler standard equipment on pumpers. Thermostat cold circulation type.
PERFORMANCE: Acceleration-This is a very important consideration, especially when starting cold in answer to an alarm. Mack fire department engines are well fitted to meet these conditions. They warm up quickly due to thermostatic temperature control. They develop full power quickly due to intake vaporizer and heater valve.
BRAKES: Deceleration-Safety is possible only through ample braking ability. Mack brakes are of the internal, fully-enclosed, mechanical four-wheel type, actuated through a vacuum booster. The hand brake is independent on the drive shaft. Total braking area, 646 square inches.
FRAME: Even with pneumatic tire, fire apparatus is subjected to such severe shocks that the frame must be properly designed of the finest material and have an ample factor of safety. The Mack Typ-19 frame, built in Mack factories of heat-treated, nickel alloy steel, is of deep section with wide flanges and braced by cross members with integral gusset plates.
FRONT AXLE: Drop-forged, I-beam; reversed Elliot type with center-point steering.
REAR AXLE: Mack drop-forged, chrome nickel steel, heat-treated, one piece banjo. Full-floating, dual reduction Gear, Bevel and Spur.
TRANSMISSION: Mack-built, with four forward speeds and one reverse. S.A.E. shift. Interrupted splines with ground lands. Oil level spout and filler.
SPRINGS: Silico Manganese steel, heat-treated. Semi-elliptic.
1000 GPM Pumper
Price $12,500
Equipment # 14
Weight 13,500 lbs.
Serial #5031474
540License # E117862