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.