Fire Helmet, "2355 / PFD / 59"
date: label: date made
content: early 1950s
name: label: maker
content: Cairns & Brother
notes: label: Description
content: The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
label: Description
content: This metal fire helmet was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around 1950. This 20th century metal fire helmet features the hallmarks of Gratacap’s early 19th century leather helmet design including the protective combs, elongated rear brim, eagle frontpiece holder and leather frontpiece. The frontpiece holder features a painted design of the fireman’s cross, with a picture of a hook and ladder on the left side of the cross and the helmet on the right side of the cross. The leather frontpiece reads “2355 / 59 / PFD.” This helmet and frontpiece was worn by a member of Engine 59 of the Philadelphia Fire Department.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Work
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content: Firefighting Collection
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content: Fire Helmets
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0233.0218
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0218
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: leather (part: shield material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 in x 14 1/4 in; 20.32 cm x 36.195 cm
label: Measurements
content: shield: 6 in x 5 in; 15.24 cm x 12.7 cm