Fire Helmet, "Hope Fire 1 EAH"
date: label: date made
content: ca 1850
name: label: manufacturer
content: Wilson, William H.
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 William H. Wilson of New York, New York in the mid-to-late 19th century. The helmet is painted black and its eight combs are painted gold. The date “1850” is painted in gold on the rear brim, and a metal eagle frontpiece holder is mounted on the crown. The frontpiece is gold overall with a large gold number “1” in the center of a red background. An upper red banner reads “HOPE FIRE Co.” with a lower black banner bearing the initials “EAH” in gold. Hope was a common name among 19th century fire companies, so the exact company that used this hat is unknown, but the date of 1850 is the founding date of the Hope Hose Company of Burlington, New Jersey.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
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
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Work
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content: Firefighting Collection
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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: 2005.0233.0164
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0164
objectType: label: Object Name
content: helmet, fire
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 5/8 in x 10 5/8 in x 14 3/4 in; 21.9075 cm x 26.9875 cm x 37.465 cm