Ring the alarm! Firefighting historians and fire fighting collectors won’t be able to set this book down. With over 250 pages crammed full of firefighting collectibles including uniforms, tools, signs, old photographs, lanterns, alarm boxes, badges, fire extinguishers, and many more firefighting collectables that enabled the old time firefighter to survive his task more easily. An eight page full color section accentuates some of the nicer fire fighting antiques, while all appear illustrated or photographed in detail with accompanying descriptions. For those who long to expand their firefighting collectible collections.
Testimonial for firefighting collectables
I recently started collecting antique firefighting collectibles which goes along with my career as a firefighter. As a beginner it is difficult to get an idea of how much these firefighting collectibles are actually worth. I was recently in an firefighting collectables antique mall in Nebraska when I came across Andrew Gurka’s book entitled Firefighting Collectibles. As I was browsing through the illustrated pages of his book I noticed that quite a few of the firefighting collectibles I had been looking at were featured in the book and the prices being asked were very much lower than the quoted suggested prices in the book. Needless to say, I purchased the items and the book which I refer to every time I search for a new item. It is filled with a variety of items from A-Z and lists suggested values for the items which you can use as a comparison for the items you are interested in. The prices shown in the book are from 1996 so you should keep that in mind when you are looking at collectibles. This is definately the book for the beginning collector.
The leather fire fighting helmet is an internationally recognised symbol representing the history of fire fighting and in particular the firefighter. The term Leatherhead actually has two meanings. One of which means an old style leather fire fighting helmet worn by fire-fighters and secondly a colloquial slang term for firefighter who wears a leather fire fighting helmet.
Most leather fire fighting helmets were adorned with the statue of an eagle which secured a leather front to the fire fighting helmet, the eagle as become very symbolic over the years. History states that the eagle was actually sculpted as a memorial for a fallen fire fighter in the early 1800’s and its presence is still retained today.
Quite often many of the eagles on the leather fire fighting helmet have become dented and damaged and detached due to becoming caught in wires and other various obstacles. Some fire departments have resorted to the use of more modern composite material helmets but there is still a die hard following of the original leather fire fighting helmet and eagle.
Nowadays antique firefighting equipment is very much in demand by firefighting memorabilia collectors worldwide. One particular item which always draws attention is the antique fire extinguisher.
The earliest types of antique fire extinguisher date back to the early 1700’s. These antique fire extinguishers were of a primitive design consisting of a cask filled with a fire retardant liquid, incorporated in the internal construction of the cask was a gunpowder charge connected by a light-able fuse. The fuse would be lit which ignited the gunpowder which in turn exploded the cask releasing the liquid onto the fire.
The first modern type of antique fire extinguishers were patented in the early 1800’s. They consisted of a mixture of compressed air and potaasium carbonate in a copper cylinder. On operation the compressed air would expel the potassium carbonate at the base of the flames.
A further development of this design was patented in France in 1866, which utilised the the internal mixing of water, sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid to produce carbon dioxide gas.The carbon dioxide gas was directed at the seat of the fire to extinguish the flames
Firefighting collectibles and antique firefighting equipment are very much sought after items nowadays and there is a large following of avid firefighting antique collectors. The scope of firefighting memorabilia is vast and can take the form of real used items that have been used to fight famous well documented fires to the vintage firefighting equipment.
One of the most popular firefighting collectibles that always attracts great attention is the antique firefighting helmet particularly the Cairns fire helmet and the leather high eagle helmet worn by many a New york firefighter. With careful searching many an excellent example of firefighting helmet can be sought online and in antique shops.
September 11th 2001 will stick in everyones mind forever as one of the worst atrocities to mankind. But it is this kind occurrence that generates a large amount of interest from the public to search out and find firefighting collectibles that associate with this period. Whether it be a need to remember our gallant fallen heroes who fought life and limb to save lifes or just as a rememberence for their outstanding courage in the face of adversity.
Another very popular piece of antique firefighting equipment from the early 1900’s is the antique fire alarm and fire bell, both used as an early warning on a start of a fire and both of these items are in great demand from antique firefighting collectors worldwide.
Quite alot of fire fighting collectibles have deeply sentimental value particularly fire chief badges and of course firefighting posters and firefighting prints. The majority of firefighting collectors have been actively involved in a firefighting career and are now retired and the remaining are completely aware that for sure firefighting collectibles are very much appreciating in value.
