Fire Badge "L.J. Rathman Reading, PA"
date: label: date made
content: late 19th century
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This elaborate metal fire badge belonged to L.J. Rathman of the Liberty Fire Company No. 5 in Reading, Pennsylvania. A shield hangs from two chains from a small nameplate that reads “L.J. RATHMAN.” The number “5” is attached to a nameplate from a ring. The shield has a circular monogram containing the overlapping letters “LFCo.” An upper banner on the shield reads “ORGANIZED 1854” and a lower banner reads “READING, PA.” The Liberty Fire Company No. 5 was established in 1854 in a fire house located on the corner of South Fifth and Laurel Street in Reading. Reading resident L.J. Rathman was the chairman of the Reading branch of the American Electro platers’ Society in 1920, dating the badge to that era.
label: Description
content: Metal firefighter’s badges were a part of the firefighter’s uniform since volunteer companies began to proliferate in the early 19th century. As volunteer companies gave way to municipal fire departments during the mid–19th century, these badges became mandated by uniform codes. Badges served as official identification at fire scenes, as access to derelict buildings by unscrupulous citizens could result in looting. Fire badges came in a variety of shapes, most notably circular, shield–shaped, or the Maltese cross. While shield–shaped badges were often worn on the chest, circular and cross-shaped badges can be seen on jacket lapels or soft caps. Badges usually detailed the company’s name, number and department, and were often decorated with various symbols of the profession such as hose carriages, hand–pumped engines, hoses, trumpets, helmets, hooks, and ladders. For paid municipal companies, many badges also featured the badge number of the wearer.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
label: associated place
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Reading
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
label: See more items in
content: Work
label: See more items in
content: Firefighting Collection
label: See more items in
content: Fire Badges
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: 2005.0233.1309
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.1309
objectType: label: Object Name
content: badge, fireman's
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 1/2 in x 1 3/8 in; 6.35 cm x 3.4925 cm