Presentation Trumpet, "Rapid Hose 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 trumpet was used by the Rapid Hose Company of Kingston, New York during the 19th century. The trumpet has three raised bands around the shaft with minor beading around the bands. Two rings are connected to the shaft that allowed a cord to be attached to the trumpet. There is an inscription on the lower section of the trumpet that reads “Rapid Hose Co. 1.”
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
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: 2005.0233.0880
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0880
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16 3/4 in x 6 1/4 in; 42.545 cm x 15.875 cm