- Offered from the William B. Ruger Jr. Collection
- Mr. Ruger's very first fire truck, acquired in 1954 at the age
of 15
- Fine older restoration by Andy Swift's Firefly
Restorations
- Complete with two sets of ladders and "squad truck"
seating
- The prized possession of a true fire truck enthusiast
William B. Ruger Jr. loved vintage fire trucks, none more than this
1924 American LaFrance, a Type 40 combination truck with double
chain drive and a 75-horsepower, 570-cubic-inch T-head
four-cylinder engine. It had originally been built for the city of
White Plains, New York, for which it remained in service until at
least 1937; copies of the American LaFrance build details and
subsequent parts orders from the White Plains Fire Department
remain in the file, along with a photocopy of the original delivery
photograph.
Mr. Ruger acquired the truck from Lauriston McCagg in 1954, when
the truck itself was only 30 years old, and Mr. Ruger a mere 15,
with correspondence addressed care of St. Paul's School in Concord,
New Hampshire. Mr. McCagg was also a St. Paul's graduate, likely
how the two young men knew one another. Already keenly interested
in all things mechanical, the young Mr. Ruger wrote the American
LaFrance Corporation requesting advice on adjusting the valve
timing and other service matters; their responses are included in
the file, noting as an aside the vehicle's original sale price of
$12,500.
The Type 40 remained a great favorite of Mr. Ruger's and, in 2004,
was submitted to his friend Andy Swift, the renowned fire truck
authority, at Firefly Restorations of Hope, Maine. A restoration
was completed to very high standards, with invoices on file for
nearly $126,000, including a custom high-capacity radiator by Hal
Fillinger and extensive gold-leaf striping by Peter Achorn. Mr.
Ruger maintained the truck as a "runner" and used it regularly, yet
the presentation is still very nice overall.
Every young boy wants his own fire truck. William B. Ruger Jr. had
the means to make it happen at age 15, and that prized truck is now
offered from his collection following 65 years of thrilling
rides.
William B. Ruger Jr. loved vintage fire trucks, none more than this
1924 American LaFrance, a Type 40 combination truck with double
chain drive and a 75-horsepower, 570-cubic-inch T-head
four-cylinder engine. It had originally been built for the city of
White Plains, New York, for which it remained in service until at
least 1937; copies of the American LaFrance build details and
subsequent parts orders from the White Plains Fire Department
remain in the file, along with a photocopy of the original delivery
photograph.
Mr. Ruger acquired the truck from Lauriston McCagg in 1954, when
the truck itself was only 30 years old, and Mr. Ruger a mere 15,
with correspondence addressed care of St. Paul's School in Concord,
New Hampshire. Mr. McCagg was also a St. Paul's graduate, likely
how the two young men knew one another. Already keenly interested
in all things mechanical, the young Mr. Ruger wrote the American
LaFrance Corporation requesting advice on adjusting the valve
timing and other service matters; their responses are included in
the file, noting as an aside the vehicle's original sale price of
$12,500.
The Type 40 remained a great favorite of Mr. Ruger's and, in 2004,
was submitted to his friend Andy Swift, the renowned fire truck
authority, at Firefly Restorations of Hope, Maine. A restoration
was completed to very high standards, with invoices on file for
nearly $126,000, including a custom high-capacity radiator by Hal
Fillinger and extensive gold-leaf striping by Peter Achorn. Mr.
Ruger maintained the truck as a "runner" and used it regularly, yet
the presentation is still very nice overall.
Every young boy wants his own fire truck. William B. Ruger Jr. had
the means to make it happen at age 15, and that prized truck is now
offered from his collection following 65 years of thrilling
rides.
Please note that one of the exterior cylinder walls is leaking
coolant. This was temporarily fixed in the past but will require
further repair.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19.