Fire Helmet, "1804"
date: label: date made
content: 19th century
name: label: maker
content: Gratacap, Henry T.
notes: label: Description
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
content: This leather fire helmet was manufactured by H.T. Gratacap of New York, New York, in the early 19th century. The red helmet has eight combs that are painted gold. A scrolling pattern is stamped around the brim of the helmet, and Gratacap’s makers mark is stamped on the rear brim. The rear brim also has the date “1804” painted in gold with stylized sunbursts around it. A leather eagle’s head frontpiece holder is mounted on to the top of the helmet’s crown. The missing frontpiece makes attribution difficult, as there were several volunteer fire companies founded in 1804 in both Philadelphia and New York.
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: 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: 2005.0233.0212
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0212
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 1/2 in x 12 in x 14 3/4 in; 21.59 cm x 30.48 cm x 37.465 cm