Work Trumpet
date: label: date made
content: ca 1890-1915
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 nickel-plated brass speaking trumpet is unadorned and was in use during the second half of the 19th century. Two rings are attached to the trumpet’s shaft, and a leather strap is buckled through the rings to form a handle. The trumpet has no inscriptions and shows wear in a variety of places.
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: 2005.0233.0852
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0852
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass, nickel plated (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: leather (part: handle material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 3/4 in x 5 3/8 in; 29.845 cm x 13.6525 cm