General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

LEATHER; METAL HARDWARE

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

35.0 cm

Width

27.5 cm

Height

19.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Fire Fighting

Category

Clothing & personal safety apparatus

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Cairns

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

New York

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

New Brunswick

Period

THIS HELMET PROBABLY USED FROM 1947 UNTIL THE 1960S

Canada

HELMET WAS USED IN FIREFIGHTING IN CANADA. THIS TYPE WAS VERY POPULAR AMONGST FIRE FIGHTING ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA.

Function

USED TO PROTECT THE HEAD OF A FIREMAN WHILE FIGHTING FIRES. THE LONG DUCKBILL, OR BEAVERTAIL, EFFECT WHICH STICKS OUT AT THE REAR WAS TO KEEP WATER FROM RUNNING DOWN THE FIREMEN'S NECKS. [REF 3]

Technical

H.T. GRATACAP FROM NEW YORK INVENTED THE FIRST AMERICAN FIRE HELMET IN 1836WHICH WAS MADE OF REINFORCED LEATHER. THE LEATHER HELMETS WERE MUCH LIGHTER THAN METAL HELMETS OF THE SAME PERIOD. [REF 2 & 3]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

ON FRONT PIECE: 'LANCASTER/ 2/ FD' / ON EACH SIDE OF FRONT PIECE SUPPORT: 'FD'/ PAINTED ON TOP: '7'/ METAL PLATE ON INSIDE TOP PART OF HAT: 'CAIRNS & BROTHER NEW YORK/ MFRS OF/ FIREMENS EQUIPMENT/ & SUPPLIES'

Missing

INTERIOR LINING CONSISTING OF A FELT HEAD PIECE, OR COVERING; A HEAD BAND; AND FELT EAR TABS TO GIVE PROTECTION FROM FROST DURING WINTER [REF 3]

Finish

BLACK; RED, WHITE AND BLACK FRONT PIECE; COPPER, RED AND BLACK FRONT PIECE SUPPORT

Decoration

FLORAL PATTERNS MOLDED INTO BRIM/ DECORATIVE FRONT PIECE SUPPORT