Fire Helmet, "Hampton 6"
notes: label: Description (Brief)
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 (Brief)
content: This leather fire helmet dates to the mid-19th century. The helmet is painted black overall, with eight combs painted gold, and a red underbrim. The rear brim has the date “1867” painted in gold with red shadowing, and a scroll pattern is stamped around the hat’s rim. A metal fox is mounted onto the top of the crown as a frontpiece holder. The leather frontpiece is white overall, with gold letters on a red background that reads “HAMPTON/6/FIRE Co”.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
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: 2005.0233.0204
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0204
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 in x 8 1/2 in x 10 1/2 in; 25.4 cm x 21.59 cm x 26.67 cm