Fire Helmet, "Pioneer XI"
date: label: date made
content: 1851-1860
name: label: maker
content: unknown
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 leather fire helmet dates to the 1850’s. The helmet is painted black overall, with its four combs painted gold. The helmet’s brim is embossed with a floral scroll pattern and the rear brim has “PROVIDENCE” painted in gold circled in red. The metal eagle frontpiece holder originally had articulated leather wings, but one is missing. A white frontpiece is held in the beak of the eagle that reads “PIONEER/X/I1st ENGINEER” in gold with red shading. Pioneer Engine Company No. 11 was located on South Main Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
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: 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: 2005.0233.0183
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0183
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 3/4 in x 7 in x 8 1/2 in; 19.685 cm x 17.78 cm x 21.59 cm