Fire Helmet, "G. L. B."
date: label: Date made
content: 1835
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: Before they became established as decorative assets of parades and celebrations, early, "stovepipe-style" fire hats were used in actual firefighting. They served to protect firefighters' heads from falling debris and, by the later years of the eighteenth century, at least, to identify firefighters by company and name. This simple tin, "stovepipe-style" fire hat from the 1830s may have been displayed in parades but was primarily used as a work hat in actual fires. Since this particular hat does not include company information, it was likely worn to protect rather than identify the firefighter. This plain hat comes with a sweatband and is painted red with a black brim, bearing the initials "G.L.B."
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Fire Fighting
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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: 2005.0233.0159
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0159
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6 in x 18 1/2 in; 15.24 cm x 46.99 cm