Fire Helmet, "Independence Hose Steam F.E. Co. 20"
date: label: date made
content: ca 1848
name: label: maker
content: Cairns & Brother
label: maker
content: Cairns & Brother
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 made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around the mid-19th century. The black helmet has four crowns with an ivy-vine scrollwork pattern embossed around the brim of the hat. The frontpiece has the number “20” in black in the center, surrounded by text on red banners that reads “INDEPENDENCE / HOSE / STEAM / FE Co.” Founded in 1831 as the Independence Fire Hose Company No. 20, it acquired a steam fire engine in 1859. It operated as the Independence Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company No.20 until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. The name of the owner “John Dobin” is on a paper label inside the hat, and the initials “JD” are painted on the underside of the brim in black.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Fire Fighting
label: Subject
content: Costume
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
label: See more items in
content: Clothing & Accessories
label: See more items in
content: Work
label: See more items in
content: Firefighting Collection
label: See more items in
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: 2005.0233.0165
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0165
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 1/2 in x 14 in; 21.59 cm x 35.56 cm