Work Trumpet, "J.H. Tillinghast"
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 speaking trumpet was used by J.H. Tillinghast of Providence, Rhode Island during the middle of the 19th century. The trumpet is unadorned with thin molded bands where the mouthpiece and the bell attach to the shaft. The bell has a simple inscription that reads “J.H. Tillinghast/ PROVIDENCE R.I.” A cord is tied to the neck of the trumpet to form a handle. The Tillinghast family is one of the oldest in Rhode Island.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
label: Associated Place
content: United States: Rhode Island, Providence
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: 2005.0233.0859
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0859
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 15 3/8 in x 5 1/2 in; 39.0525 cm x 13.97 cm