As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This highly polished brass work trumpet was used around 1835. The trumpet has a rounded band in the center, as well as a band around the mouthpiece and bell.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This brass and tin work trumpet was used in the eastern United States around 1832. The upper portion of the trumpet is tin and covered in leather to create a grip, while the lower portion is made of brass. One ring is attached to the bottom of the trumpet to allow a cord to be attached .The initials “D.F.D.” are engraved on the lower half of the trumpet, possibly standing for the Delaware Fire Department.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This trumpet was presented to the Weccacoe Fire Company of Camden, New Jersey by the citizens of Camden, New Jersey in 1837. The trumpet is in two sections, the shaft has a crenulated edge at the base with a raised leaf band. The trumpet has a stippled background overall, with raised floral engravings throughout. A shield bears the inscription “Presented to Weccacoe Fire Company by Citizens of Camden, N.J. October 5th 1837.” Below the inscription is an image of a fire house (possibly Weccacoe’s) engraved in an oval cartouche. The trumpet has two hooks that would have been used to attach a cord. The Weccacoe Fire Company operated in Camden, New Jersey from 1800 to 1854.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This speaking trumpet was presented by the Philadelphia Engine Company No. 18 of Boston to Philadelphia’s Washington Engine Company in 1832. The trumpet is made of brass, with a tin mouthpiece and an upper half sheathed in leather. A purple cord with tassels is attached near the mouthpiece, though it is of a later date than the trumpet itself. The brass trumpet is missing its bell, but the shaft is engraved with the inscription “Presented by the Philadelphia Engine Co. No. 18 of Boston to the Washington Engine Co. of Philadelphia, 1832." The Philadelphia Engine Company was founded in 1825 on Beacon Street, near Boston Common. Soon after this trumpet was made, the company changed its name to Lafayette and eventually disbanded in 1851. The Washington Engine Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1796 and would remain active until the city changed over to a municipal fire department in 1872.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This brass and tin trumpet was presented to William Weeks of the Washington Engine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the Washington Club of Boston in 1832. The upper portion of the trumpet is constructed of tin, and the bottom of the trumpet is polished brass. There is an inscription on the brass section that reads “From the Washington Club of Boston / to Wm. Weeks Esqr. / of the Washington Engine Co. Philadelphia 1832 / Go on Washee." The name “Washee” (also “Washy’s”) is the nickname of the Washington Engine Company No. 14, organized in 1796. It operated as a hand engine fire company and acquired a steam fire engine in 1865. The company served as a steam fire engine company until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established. A volunteer fireman and member of the city militia, William Weeks was a printer and publisher by profession.
As more American volunteer fire fighting companies began to form during the late 18th century, a need emerged for better organized efforts in combating conflagrations. Engineers and officers would use “speaking trumpets” to amplify their voices over the noise and commotion of a fire scene to direct the company in effectively fighting the blaze. Two trumpet variants are reflected in the collection: plain and functional “working” trumpets that were actively used at fires, and highly decorated “presentation” trumpets. Presentation trumpets were awarded to firefighters in honor of their service, or between fire companies during visits, competitions, and musters.
This metal speaking trumpet was in use in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1838. The trumpet has two rounded bands on the upper and lower portion of the shaft. Two rings protrude from the rounded bands that would have been strung with a cord to create a handle or strap. There is an inscription in the center of the trumpet that reads “United States Hose Co. / 14 / Chief Director.” The United States Hose Company Number 14 was located on 423 Buttonwood Street in Philadelphia. The company was organized in 1826 and operated until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established.
In the nineteenthth century, Americans began to teach young groups of children in classrooms. Some of these institutions were designed especially for these children, and were called infant schools. To create a vivid impression on young minds, teachers used a numeral frame or abacus in combination with a chart like this one.
The cardboard chart was part of a larger series. It has printing on both sides. One side is entitled: ARITHMETIC CARD III. It shows groups of like objects on the left, with one slightly different object on the right. Subtracting one fallen tree from two trees leaves one tree standing, Having one of three mounted trumpeters fall off his horse leaves two trumpeters riding. Further illustrations show the loss of one from larger groups. The reverse of this chart is entitled: ARITHMETIC CARD VII. It has groups of vertical lines on the left and three vertical lines on the right, and is designed to teach adding by three.
A mark on the chart reads: INFANT SCHOOL CARDS, PUBLISHED BY MUNROE & FRANCIS, BOSTON.
For another chart in the series, see CL*389116.28.
Infant schools were popular in Boston around 1830, and the abacus was introduced into the Boston schools at about that time. Munroe & Francis was in business from the last decades of the 1700s until 1860 or so. In October 1831, The New England Magazine announced that the firm had just published “Complete Sets of Lessons on Cards for Infant Schools, consisting of 100 Lessons of every variety, on 50 Boards.” It seems likely that these cards were part of that set.
Reference:
“Works Published,” The New England Magazine, 1 (1831), p. 368.
One (1) Daniel Morgan at the Cowpens medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1839
Obverse Image: Morgan leads an infantry change on horseback against a retreating British cavalry; another cavalry charge is visible in the background.
Obverse Text: VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX. / FVGATIS CAPTIS AVT CAESIS / AD COWPENS HOSTIBVS / XVII. JAN. MDCCLXXXI / DUPRE. INV. ET. F.
Reverse Image: America, represented as a semi-nude Indian female places a crown of laurels on the head of Morgan who stands in uniform to her right; he bows slightly to receive his crown; behind them are two cannons, a shield, trumpet, fasces, and sundry standards to represent war.
Reverse Text: DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS / COMITIA AMERICANA / DUPRE F.
This trumpet was made by an unknown maker in England, around 1833 to 1837. It is a G trumpet made of brass with two ivory topped Stölzel model piston valves and accessioned with four crooks, in E-flat, F, D, and C.
Heinrich David Stölzel (1777-1844) was born in Scheeberg, Germany and was a horn player who developed some of the first valves for brass instruments. Stölzel developed this type of valve around 1814.
Patent model of a freestanding, raised-hearth fireplace having a detachable oval firebox with removable, fully-enclosed, picketed chamber. Firebox rests atop central recess in hearth directly in front of a conforming concave back covered with embossed metallic-gold paper featuring a trumpeting winged angel next to a rayed sun. Flue at top back of firebox inserts into a corresponding slot in mantel that connects to a horizontal smoke pipe, oval in section, behind the frieze. Large rectangular opening in hearth front allows access to ashpit; diamond piercings at front corners and sides. Entire model japanned black with "THOMAS WHITSON'S / INVENTION" stenciled in yellow or metallic gold paint on mantel top and frieze. Soldered and riveted construction.
Paper tags tied to hearth with red and purple (faded) wove ribbon are printed and handwritten with patent information for U.S. Patent No. 784, granted to Thomas Whiston of New York, NY, on June 14, 1838, for "Constructing the Flues of Open Fireplaces".
This 1837 is a commentary on the Specie Circular, an executive order implemented by President Andrew Jackson in 1836, and implemented by Martin Van Buren during his presidency. In this print, New York politician/ longtime ally of Van Buren, Silas Wright who is holding a whip and driving a carriage. Seated next to him is “Globe” editor, Francis Preston Blair who is giving a speech on the Species Circular and its impact through a trumpet. The carriage is being pulled by a team of four horses with the heads of Secretary of the Treasury Levi Woodbury, Secretary of War Joel Roberts Poinsett, Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson, and Postmaster General and Democratic political advisor Amos Kendall. These four men were part of the driving force of the Specie Circular, represented in this print by them pulling President Van Buren and Secretary of State John Forsyth. They are chasing a devil-like character who is leading them towards a gold nugget in the road. The Specie Circular mandated that all government lands be purchased in gold or silver, a decision in line with the Jackson Administration’s desire to preserve the gold standard for currency.
The lithographer of this print is Moses Swett. He began his career in Boston around 1826, working with the Pendletons and Annin and Smith, and as the superintendent of the Senefelder Lithographic Co. from 1828 to 1829. In 1830 he moved to New York, and worked with George Endicott until 1836 when he moved to Washington.
