Work Trumpet, "Pennsylvania Fire Company"
date: label: date made
content: unknown
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
label: Description (Brief)
content: This brass speaking trumpet was used by the Pennsylvania Fire Company in active duty during the 19th century. The plain trumpet has three bands, and the lowest band has a ring attached to it. The ring allowed a cord to be attached to the trumpet. The trumpet bears the inscription “Pennsylvania Fire Company” which was likely based in the city of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Fire Company No. 22 was organized in 1806 and in 1839 withdrew from active service in protest due to the rioting of the other fire companies.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Work
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content: Firefighting Collection
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content: Speaking Trumpets
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: 2005.0233.0846
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0846
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 20 1/2 in x 7 1/2 in; 52.07 cm x 19.05 cm