Work Trumpet, "United States Hose Company 14"
date: label: date made
content: ca 1838
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 metal speaking trumpet was in use in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1838. The trumpet has two rounded bands on the upper and lower portion of the shaft. Two rings protrude from the rounded bands that would have been strung with a cord to create a handle or strap. There is an inscription in the center of the trumpet that reads “United States Hose Co. / 14 / Chief Director.” The United States Hose Company Number 14 was located on 423 Buttonwood Street in Philadelphia. The company was organized in 1826 and operated until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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
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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: 2005.0233.0897
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0897
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 18 1/4 in x 7 in; 46.355 cm x 17.78 cm