Presentation Trumpet, "Washington Engine Company"
date: label: date made
content: ca 1832
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 and tin trumpet was presented to William Weeks of the Washington Engine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the Washington Club of Boston in 1832. The upper portion of the trumpet is constructed of tin, and the bottom of the trumpet is polished brass. There is an inscription on the brass section that reads “From the Washington Club of Boston / to Wm. Weeks Esqr. / of the Washington Engine Co. Philadelphia 1832 / Go on Washee." The name “Washee” (also “Washy’s”) is the nickname of the Washington Engine Company No. 14, organized in 1796. It operated as a hand engine fire company and acquired a steam fire engine in 1865. The company served as a steam fire engine company until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. A volunteer fireman and member of the city militia, William Weeks was a printer and publisher by profession.
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: 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: 2005.0233.0881
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0881
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trumpet, speaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: tin (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 17 1/2 in x 3 3/4 in; 44.45 cm x 9.525 cm