Fire Engine Plate, "Northern Liberty"
Fire Engine Plate, "Northern Liberty"
- Description (Brief)
- At the core of any fire company is the apparatus used to fight fires and protect lives. This was particularly true of for the volunteer fire fighters in 19th century America. Often purchased with their own funds, their fire engines were the focus of their pride and affection, as well as their identities as fire fighters. Engine plates, often made of brass, would be prominently affixed to engines and inscribed with the company name, number, and founding date. Engine plates could pass from old engine to new, or be kept in the firehouse as a memorial to a departed apparatus.
- This silver-plated brass plate was probably used by either the Northern Liberty Fire Company No. 1 or the Northern Liberty Hose Company No. 4 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The rectangular plate has the text “NORTHERN LIBERTY” engraved in fancy calligraphic letters. There are three holes at the top that would have been used for mounting.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- plate, fire engine
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States
- Physical Description
- brass, silver plated (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 3 3/4 in x 26 1/2 in; 9.525 cm x 67.31 cm
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0939
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0939
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- subject
- Fire Fighting
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
- Cultures & Communities
- Work
- Firefighting Collection
- Fire Engine Plates
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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