Work Trumpet, "P.L.C."
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 work trumpet dates to the 19th century. The unadorned trumpet has two bands around the upper and lower portions of the shaft. Two rings hang from the shaft, allowing a cord to be attached the trumpet. This mouthpiece has become detached from the trumpet, and the shaft is engraved with the initials “PLC.”
label: Location
content: Currently not on view (trumpet, speaking)
label: Location
content: Currently not on view (mouth piece)
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
label: See more items in
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: 2005.0233.0891
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0891
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 17 in x 7 1/4 in; 43.18 cm x 18.415 cm