Fire Engine Plate, "Newton"
Fire Engine Plate, "Newton"
- 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 white metal engine plate belonged to the Newton Fire Company Number 3 of Newton, Massachusetts. The Newton Fire Department was founded in 1835, and the Newton Fire Company Number 3 was founded in 1857. The shield-shaped plate bears the central engraving “NEWTON/3” with black enamel filling. There are decorative incisions around the text, and holes at the top and sides for mounting.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- plate, fire engine
- date made
- 1850
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States
- Physical Description
- white metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 4 1/4 in x 7 1/4 in; 10.795 cm x 18.415 cm
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0940
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0940
- 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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