Work - Overview
The tools, rules, and relationships of the workplace illustrate some of the enduring collaborations and conflicts in the everyday life of the nation. The Museum has more than 5,000 traditional American tools, chests, and simple machines for working wood, stone, metal, and leather. Materials on welding, riveting, and iron and steel construction tell a more industrial version of the story. Computers, industrial robots, and other artifacts represent work in the Information Age.
But work is more than just tools. The collections include a factory gate, the motion-study photographs of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, and more than 3,000 work incentive posters. The rise of the factory system is measured, in part, by time clocks in the collections. More than 9,000 items bring in the story of labor unions, strikes, and demonstrations over trade and economic issues.
"Work - Overview" showing 13 items.
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Helmet Frontpiece, "Enterprise Hose"
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was manufactured by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around 1895. The black leather frontpiece has white lettering on a red background that reads “ENTERPRISE/HOSE/1.” There is a red banner at the bottom of the frontpiece with missing letters.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1895
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1431
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1431
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, "Hydraulion Steam Fire Engine Company 3"
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around 1875. Two red banners are at the top of the frontpiece with raised gold leather lettering that reads “HYDRAULION/SFE Co.” A large black number “3” is in the center, with a black banner at the bottom with raised gold leather initials that reads “CW” with a first initial missing.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1875
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1447
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1447
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, "Neptune Hose 2"
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York during the 19th century. The frontpiece is made of brown leather, with stitched red leather lettering on a white background that reads “NEPTUNE/HOSE/2.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1464
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1464
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “2461 7 PFD”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This patent leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around 1939. The black frontpiece has an upper and lower banner with a white background. The banners read “2461/PFD” in painted red letters. A red leather number “7” is stitched in the center of the piece, with a red leather hook and ladder crossed behind it.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1939
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1498
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1498
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “CH & L Co. No. 1”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York around 1945. Two white banners encircle a simplified flower design at the center. The upper banner reads “CH &L Co No 1” in black leather letters. The lower banner reads “DISTRICT No 4” in black leather letters. The frontpiece likely belonged to a hook and ladder company.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1499
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1499
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “Philadelphia Fire Dept. Ladder Co. 13”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This patent leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in the mid-20th century. The red frontpiece has two recessed cartouches at the top and bottom of the piece. The cartouches read “LADDER/21” in white paint. The number “13” in white leather stitched into the center of the frontpiece.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- unknown
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1500
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1500
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “Philadelphia Fire Dept. Ladder Co, 14”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York during the late 18th to early 19th century. The red leather frontpiece has two recessed banners at the top and bottom. The banner at the top reads “LADDER” in white paint, with the number “8” in white paint at the bottom. The number “14” is stitched into the center of the piece in raised white leather numbers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- unknown
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1501
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1501
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “Philadelphia Fire Dept. Ladder Co. 24”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York during the mid-20th century. The red frontpiece has two recessed banners at the top and bottom. The rim of the frontpiece and the banners are framed by white stitching. The upper banner reads “LADDER” in white paint; the lower banner has the number “14”in white paint. The number “24” is stitched into the center of the piece in raised white leather numbers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- unknown
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1502
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1502
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “Philadelphia Fire Dept. Engine Co. 1”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This patent leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in the mid-20th century. The black frontpiece has two recessed banners at the top and bottom. The rim of the frontpiece and the banners are framed by stitching. The upper banner reads “ENGINE” in white paint; the lower banner reads “13” in white paint. A large white leather number “1” is stitched on to the center of the piece.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- unknown
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1503
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1503
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, “Philadelphia Fire Dept. Engine Co. 26”
- Description (Brief)
- 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.
- This patent leather frontpiece was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York the mid-20th century. The frontpiece has a brown leather exterior with cutouts revealing a white interior. The frontpiece has stitching around its white recessed upper and lower banner, with stitching also around its edge. The upper banner reads “365” in black paint; the lower banner has the initials “PFD” in black paint. The center of the frontpiece has cut-outs to shape a recessed number “26” in white, surrounded by stitching.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- unknown
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1504
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1504
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center