Franklin Hose Company Fire Hat
Franklin Hose Company Fire Hat
Previous
Next
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This fire hat was used in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black overall, with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin painted inside a golden oval frame on the front. The portrait is flanked by red banners with gold trim that reads “FRANKLIN/HOSE COMPY” in gold. The back of the hat has the date “1838” painted in large gold numbers. The crown of the hat has the owner’s initials “J.S.” Franklin Hose Company No.28 was founded in Philadelphia in 1838, with its firehouse on Broad Street near Fitzwater. Benjamin Franklin was well known for organizing the first volunteer fire company in Philadelphia, and his image and his name were popular among the city’s fire companies. They acquired a steam fire engine in 1863. In 1867 they purchased the charter for the Harmony Engine Company No. 6 and changed their name. The newly christened Harmony Engine Company No. 6 operated as a hose and steam fire engine company until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- hat, fire
- date made
- c.1840-1860
- associated
- Franklin Hose Company
- depicted, commemorated
- Franklin, Benjamin
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States
- Physical Description
- painted (overall production method/technique)
- fabric, pressed felt (overall material)
- black (overall color)
- red (underbrim color)
- gold (decorative trim color)
- multicolored (decorative painting color)
- paint (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 6 3/4 in x 12 in x 13 1/2 in; 17.145 cm x 30.48 cm x 34.29 cm
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0039
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0039
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- subject
- Franklin, Benjamin
- Fire Fighting
- Fraternal Associations
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
- Cultures & Communities
- Clothing & Accessories
- Fire Hats
- Work
- Firefighting Collection
- Art
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.
