Helmet Frontpiece, "New York Volunteer Sons Association"
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: The frontpiece (also known as shield or badge) of firefighting helmets has been a distinctive part of the American firefighter’s helmet since it was developed by Henry Gratacap in the early 19th century. These frontpieces displayed a variety of information. The fire company's name and number appeared, often alongside the city or town where it was based. The frontpiece could also include the owner's initials and rank. Most fire helmets had leather frontpieces, but frontpieces could also be made of metal, especially on presentation helmets or those worn in parades.
label: Description (Brief)
content: This leather frontpiece was manufactured in the late 19th century. The brown frontpiece has two red banners with raised white leather lettering that reads “NY/VOLUNTEER.”The center of the piece has the text “SONS” in raised red leather lettering. At the bottom of the piece is two banners with white lettering that reads “ASSOCIATION/JJS.” The New York Volunteer Firemen’s Sons’ Association was founded for "the promotion of friendly feelings and social intercourse, to provide a headquarters for the transaction of business connected with the association, together with a reading room where members can meet and extend the friendship now existing among their father…and to allow members of the association, under proper restrictions, to provide a uniform to represent the association in all public parades, etc.”
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: Firefighting Collection
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content: Work
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content: Helmet Frontpieces
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: 2005.0233.1462
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.1462
objectType: label: Object Name
content: frontpiece, helmet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 in; 20.32 cm