Helmet Frontpiece, "Hope Steam Fire Co."
date: label: date made
content: ca 1871
name: label: maker
content: Anderson & Jones
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: The frontpiece (also known as shield or badge) of firefighting helmets has been a distinctive part of the American firefighter’s helmet since it was developed by Henry Gratacap in the early 19th century. These frontpieces displayed a variety of information. The fire company's name and number appeared, often alongside the city or town where it was based. The frontpiece could also include the owner's initials and rank. Most fire helmets had leather frontpieces, but frontpieces could also be made of metal, especially on presentation helmets or those worn in parades.
label: Description (Brief)
content: This leather frontpiece was manufactured by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1871. It was worn by a member of the Hope Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Organized in 1796 as the Hope Fire Engine Company, a hand engine company, it acquired a steam engine in 1860 and changed its name to the Hope Steam Fire Engine Company No. 17. The company was active until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. The tan frontpiece originally read “HOPE/17/STEAMFIRE CO/JWA” but several of the letters are now missing. The letters are white leather on a red background.
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: Firefighting Collection
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content: Work
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content: Helmet Frontpieces
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: 2005.0233.1434
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.1434
objectType: label: Object Name
content: frontpiece, helmet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 1/2 in x 6 in; 19.05 cm x 15.24 cm