In the mid-19th century, the expansion and regulation of American insurance companies created a need for numerous computations and a demand for instruments to assist in this process. Elizur Wright (1804–1885), one of the first insurance commissioners of Massachusetts, invented this large cylindrical slide rule, patented it in 1869, and sold it to insurance companies for $500.00. It is the equivalent of a linear slide rule more than 60 feet long.
The instrument consists of two adjacent cylindrical brass drums, each covered with paper and mounted horizontally in a round brass frame, which is screwed to a round wooden base. Two indentations in the side of the base assist with lifting the instrument. A crossbar attached to the frame extends across the length of the drums. Two indicators slide across a groove in the bar. A brass handle with an ivory knob on the right side of the frame rotates the drums. An ivory button on the left side of the frame operates a brake. When the button is locked in a vertical position, the two drums turn together. When the button is horizontal, only the right drum turns.
The two cylinders are marked identically. Each drum has a spiral of 20 turns, divided logarithmically (perhaps by pencil), with printed numbers to the right of each division. The first digit of a number is read from the crossbar, and the remaining three are printed on the drum. The markings include every digit from 0 to 3,000; every even digit from 3,000 to 6,000; and every other even digit from 6,000 to 10,000. The arithmeter arrived in a badly scratched wooden case that has two metal handles and a keyhole (but no key).
A metal plaque screwed to the base is marked: No 6 (/) ELIZUR WRIGHT'S (/) ARITHMETER (/) PATENTED AUG. 17TH 1869. (/) N.E.M.L.INS. CO. The New England Mutual Life Insurance Company (now New England Financial), a company with a long connection to Wright and his family, donated this example, one of ten known surviving arithmeters. Wright's son, Walter C. Wright, was the firm's chief actuary from 1866 to 1900. Wright was also a well-known abolitionist. Although this example cannot be definitively credited to him, Joseph W. Fowle, a Boston machinist who invented a rotating rock drill, is known to have built some arithmeters for Wright.
References: Elizur Wright, "Calculator" (U.S. Patent 93,849 issued August 17, 1869); Peggy A. Kidwell, "Elizur Wright's Arithmeter. An Early American Spiral Slide Rule," Rittenhouse 4 (1989): 1–4; Lawrence B. Goodheart, Abolitionist, Actuary, Atheist: Elizur Wright and the Reform Impulse (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1990), 149, 168; Naom Maggor, "Politics of Property: Urban Democracy in the Age of Capital, Boston 1865-1900" (Ph.D. diss., Harvard University, 2010).
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1932, and ad for the Masonic Casualty Company of Boston, Mass. The other has color image of George Washington.
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
The Insurance Company of North America offered this fire mark to their policyholders during the early 19th century. This fire mark is based on the designs of Claudius Francis LeGrand, consisting of an image of a spread-winged eagle rising from a cloud embossed upon a copper oval. A group of influential citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded the Insurance Company of North America in 1792. The INA was the first joint stock insurance company in the United States, and focused its business on marine and fire insurance. The Insurance Company of North America and related companies merged with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1982 to become the CIGNA Corporation. A later sale made INA a part of ACE Holdings, where it still operates today.
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1934, and ad for the Pennsylvania Insurance Company. The other depicts the imposing front door of the Pennsylvania Insurance Company building in Philadelphia.
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
The Baltimore Equitable Society of Baltimore, Maryland produced this fire mark in 1927. The cast iron mark features a raised image of two clasped hands with linked chain cuffs on a square background. The clasped hands are painted gold, with the year “1794” painted in gold at the bottom. The Baltimore Equitable Society of Baltimore, Maryland first produced this fire mark design in 1795. The “Sign of the Clasped Hands” fire mark is still available from the Baltimore Equitable Society, now cast in aluminum that is painted black overall, with hands and numbering in gold.
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
The Fire Association of Philadelphia issued this brass fire mark in 1859. The fire mark is painted brown, with a golden color showing underneath. The Fire Association’s fire mark consisted of a raised image of an early fire hydrant with hose attached, flanked by the letters F.A. in the center of an oval. The F.A. adopted a fireplug as their symbol to celebrate the contribution of Philadelphia's innovative public water system to their mission of fighting fire. The Fire Association of Philadelphia was an insurance company founded in 1817 by a group of eleven volunteer engine companies and five volunteer hose companies. A percentage of the Fire Association’s insurance company’s profits were distributed to the volunteer companies. The F.A. fire mark was extremely popular, and an estimated 40,000 fire marks were issued during the company’s history. The Fire Association operated until 1958, when it merged with the Reliance Insurance Company of Philadelphia.
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
The Protection Fire Insurance Company of Charleston, West Virginia issued this cast iron fire mark around 1892 to 1894. The rectangular mark bears a raised image in the center of a spread-winged eagle rising from flames. The top and bottom of the mark reads “PROTECTION/INSURANCE Co.” The Protection Fire Insurance Company operated from 1892 until 1894.
Pocket card with ruler and calendar for 1935. The front of the card has an image of the Insurance Company of North America's "new building." Back reads: "Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co. Founded 1792 A Philadelphia Institution"
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935, and ad for the “Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co.” The other has an image of the “NEW BUILDING OF [the] INSURANCE COMPANY of North America / Philadelphia.”
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
This fire mark is an example of the type that the Insurance Company of North America produced between 1929 and 1942 for the Chinese market. The circular mark has a red background in the center which bears the INA Eagle and the inscription I.N.A./1792. Outside the red center is the text “INSURANCE Co., OF NORTH AMERICA” at the top and Kanji script at the bottom.
"Insurance” workshop guidelines booklet used at the 1977 International Women's Year National Convention. Compiled by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, regarding women’s access to insurance.
Quilt, dated March 1932 - March 1933. Virden, IL Chapter 1719. Cotton; blue and orange spoke/circle quilt; hand-quilted and embroidered. Made by Royal Neighbor of America member, Hattie I. Gass, who embroidered the names of Royal Neighbors of America members in Virden Illinois, and the names of local businesses that the quiltmaker felt were supportive of her community. It was a gift to the Royal Neighbors of America old-age (later retirement) home in Davenport, Iowa, which opened to members in 1931. Royal Neighbors of America was founded in 1895, the first woman-led insurance association in the US.
Pieced and embroidered block quilt, 1931. From Clovis NM Chapter 7699 of Royal Neighbors of America. Cotton; alternating squares of solid lavender and white embroidered in cotton embroidery floss with flowers and the names of the makers, sometimes also dated; hand-quilted. Made for the Royal Neighbors of America old age home (Grandview Terrace) in Davenport, Iowa, by members of the organization.
