Leather firefighting helmet. Ornate leather firefighting helmet with stamped border around rim, vertical designs on sections on dome and manufacturer's seal "H.G. Grata cap _ St NY" On back 2.5in tall "1820" painted in red and gold. Metal eagle head is mounted facing front on top of front. Eagle appears to hold in its beak a leather crest with a 3.25in high blue "4" with white leather cut out to reveal it. Cut out on top revelas a red background with white letter: W_SH____ON." A cut out section at the base has a red background and white letters "_. C. L." Remnants of red fabric around edge of interior where hat fits onto head.
Manufacturer's stamp " H.T. Gratacap, Manufacturer of Firemans Caps, Belts, &c 143 Grand St, New York"
White metal helmet plate with brass banner with "SHIFFLER" at top, 3in high "7" in center, and banner with "S. FIre Co." at bottom. Names and numbers attached with 7 nuts in the back.
Sheet metal helmet plate with three brass pieces attached with a total of 6 nuts and bolts which are invisible from the front. Top and bottom pieces are banner shaped; top says "Assistance" and bottom says "Fire Co." The middle brass piece attached is the numeral "8" 3.5 in high.
2.325in wide white leather belt edges bound in dark green leather with scalloped edges on the front. enter cut out portion reveals a red background with raised white letters "HUMANE" 2.625in wide movable slide also bound in green edges with red cut out background with raised "6" in white. Belt with holes is missing. Belt on the opposite end has a small buckle.
Firefighting helmet from the Shiffler Fire Company. Leather helmet painted dark red on top with edge and underside of brim painted black. On back of brim "1852" painted in gold and black, 2.25in high. Hat in 16 sections with 4 raised arcs, one in back and two at sides painted gold. Center front of helmet a golden metal eagle's head reaches forward with a ball or berry in its beak This may fit inot the horizontal loop at the top back of the metal shield to hold it in place. metal sheild, curved silver colored with three brass pieces attached. Top banner reads: "SHIFFLER;" middle piece is 3in high "7;" and bottom banner reads: "S. FIRE Co." Lined with a 3in band of red flocked fabric.
Firefighter's belt from the Shiffler Fire Company. 2.5in wide leather belt painted dark red, edges bound in green leather with a scalloped edge on the front. Center cut out portion reveals a green background with raised metal letters: "SHIFFLER." A silver colored metal buckle (3in) displays in relief fire fighting equipment. A sheild in the center contains a #7. The bent edge on the back of the shield hookos over a link at the pposite end of the belt. Belt size is adjusted by moving hooks (attached at both ends of belt) to various holes in the belt.
Note: A card, found loose in the box near this belt reads: "Shiffler Fire Co., No 7, Leather Belt. Presented by Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, Bausman, PA."
A card, found loose in the box near this belt, reads: "Shiffler Fire Co., No 7, Leather Belt. Presented by Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, Bausman, PA." No more information in known. 11/18/2015 VAP
Union Fire Company Leather insignia or emblem. Long strip of leather with curved ends, painted black with a .0625in gold border around edge. "UNION," 1.75in high letters, is painted in gold in the center. At both ends an 8.5in piece of cotton tape is sewn to the back and is drawn through a hole to the front.
Leather firefighter's helmet. From 1820, Washington
Leather fire helmet painted brown overall. Impressed decorative floral chain border plus vertical impressions on the 8 sections of the helmet. 3 of the wider arcs are painted gold. The front arc is topped with a metal eagle head painted gold. A leather shield on the front is white, with cut-out portions revealing a blue "4." Red portions have "WASHINGTON' and "CAF" in white letters. Two eyebolts screwed into helmet front to secure the leather shield. Oval company seal pressed into leather on back rim of hat (on upper side): "H.T. Gratacap Grand St. NY."
Underside: 3" wide lined red flocked fabric headband on inside of helmet still in tact. Hole drilled through back of brim.
Maker is: H.T. Gratacap Manufacturer of Firemen's Caps, Belt &c.
Fireman's hat - 1820. Decorative border in relief around brim. decorative impressions in leather forming the helmet. Emblem impressed on underside of back of hat "Wilson maker _ _ BOWERY." Of eight vertical ridges on the helmet, four ridges, painted gold, widen to .5" high at the top. An eagle neck and head of gold colored metal has been attached to the front ridge with two metal pins or nails. The eagle has detailed feathers and a berry in its beak. "1820" in red and gold is painted on top of rear brim.
American Fire Company Parade Hat. Leather hat with brim (3" in front tapering to 1 3/8" in rear). Height of central portion of hat is 6" in front and slopes to 1 3/8" at rear. Exterior painted red with 1/4" black borders around rim and base of crown of hat. U.S. emblem/shield in red, white and blue painted on crown beneath a black banner with "American" in 1"-high gold letters. Label inside with "Mr. Jacob Sener." Piece of paper cut and pasted to inside top of hat.