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.
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.
This trumpet was made by Wright & Baldwin in Boston, Massachusetts about 1845. It is an F trumpet made of brass with three Viennese double piston valves. This trumpet is of an unusual design, known as an Old Mainz Model, is played with the body of the trumpet above the fingering levers. This trumpet is engtraved:
Wright & Baldwin Makers-Boston
Elbridge G. Wright (1811-1871) started his musical instrument firm in Boston in 1841. This trumpet is one of the few instruments made during Wright’s brief partnership with Baldwin in 1845.
Large, raised, handleless calyx-shaped cup with hemispherical bottom on pedestal base with molded top, trumpet-shape stem, and applied square foot. Engraved on exterior of cup "Presented by the / Sisters of the New South Church / for its / Communion Service, Jan\y. 1\st, 1815." One side of foot is stamped "MOULTON" with traces of a surround, overstruck at an angle. Centerpoint on bottom underside of cup.
Maker is Ebenezer Moulton (1768-1824) of Boston and Newburyport (after 1820), MA; working, 1790-1824.
Color print of firemen pumping water from a fire engine. The foreman or chief engineer stands on the engine giving orders with a speaking trumpet while another fireman climbs a ladder against a burning building carrying the hose in the background.
Candlestick with an incurved cylindrical candle cup or socket on footed bowl-shaped base atop a tapered hexagonal stem with compressed-ball knop ending in a circular flared or trumpet-shaped drip pan on hexagonal stepped base. Molded rim and socket have one seam; hollow shaft cast in two vertical sections. Socket exterior struck "PR" in raised serif letters inside a crowned shield. One of two candlesticks, DL*383563A-B.
Raised ovoid sauceboat with rounded sides and narrow pouring lip on a raised oval flared or trumpet-shaped pedestal with slightly tapered base; opposite sides of body are engraved "JSB" in conjoined foliate script and "AAB" in flecked script. Triple-reeded band at rim. High-loop, C-curve, reeded and tapered strap handle has pendant drop and bead at upper terminal. Body struck once to left of handle "BBURT" in raised serif letters in a rectangle. No centerpunch or other marks on underside of body or base.
Candlestick with an incurved cylindrical candle cup or socket on footed bowl-shaped base atop a tapered hexagonal stem with compressed-ball knop ending in a circular flared or trumpet-shaped drip pan on hexagonal stepped base. Molded rim and socket have one seam; hollow shaft cast in two vertical sections. Socket exterior with partial stamp of "PR" in raised serif letters inside a crowned shield. One of two candlesticks, DL*383563A-B.