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Old Fire photos
I recenetly purchased a lot of old negatives from the USA. They appear to be taken in the late 1800's or early 1900's. A few are from what I think may be a 4th of July parade and show firefighters. I am looking for someone who may be able to give a better idea of year so i can date these photos. They are not in good condition, are curled very tight and a couple crumble to the touch, but I ahve managed to scan about 4 so far. Firefighters are in parade uniform but one has what looks to be a High Eagle helmet. From other photos in the collection I would think it is New York or another large city that was served by the Erie railroad. Hope that someone can help
Colin
Colin
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bob Kinne on
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Colin,
Those are some great old photos. If you can get some more of them scanned and posted here it would help us to better identify the area where they were taken.
The photo with the three men marching has some clues. At that time the chief officer often wore the high eagle helmet in parades. The men on the right is carrying a foreman's trumpet with flowers. The foreman was the equivilent of today's captain.
The other photo was possibly taken during a parade at a state or regional fireman's association convention. The ribbons that the marchers are wearing were common for conventions and special events. They usually contained the title of the event and date on the colored ribbon, and they were held in place by a celluloid pin back button with some sort of firematic picture on it. Again this was possibly taken in the northest because of the style of the houses and the trees.
Please post more if you can.
Bob -
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Permalink Reply by Colin Prince on
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Bob,
Many thanks for that. I have 3 others that I will post, the only other one was damaged so badly (Brittle) that it fell apart when I tried to uncurl it. Was not even able to see what it was apart from little pieces! The only info that I gan get from other in the collection is as mentioned above -The area served by the Erie railroad.
Are you able to give any idea of year?
Thanks
Colin - Attachments:
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colin,
The first photo (OUSo4) is what I consider a rare find. If you notice the firemen in line of march are all without their dress hats. A closer inspection shows that they are all marching with their hat in their right hand, holding it over the heart.
You appear to have a photo of a funeral parade, possibly that of a firefighter. Outstanding!
The second photo is definately that of a fire apparatus, as the front and rear fenders and connecting running board is clearly visible. They were very common on factory built fire wagons from the mid 1800's up to the the interduction of motorized apparatus in the first decades of the 1900's. The photo is unfortunately too dark to tell much more about it. I can enlarge it but don't have the right software to sharpen the image as it gets bigger.
The last picture ( with the top right corner missing is of the same convention parade as the first photo you posted. The house with the distinctive gable is in the background of both photos.
As for the year I would hazzard a guess that they were taken at seperate events in the same geographic area probably in the 1890's ( possibly as early as 1880, but no later than 1910 ).
Bob -
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Bob,
Many thanks for that. I will try and post a higher resolution copy of the apparatus, have lightened it up as much as I dare without losing detail.
Some of the other photos of the Erie railroad, would point to about 1895 from information I found on the internet over the weekend.
Colin - Attachments:
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OUS06.jpg, 395 KB
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Colin,
Lightening the photo helps quite a bit. Now when you enlarge it you are able to faintly see that there is a fireman standing on the running board between the front and rear wheels. This is important because it now gives a much better perspective of the size of the apparatus.
The 1895 Pirsh hose wagon which my fire company had is very simular in style, however I can now see that this wagon is probably 3 or 4 feet longer and at least a foot higher than the standard hose wagon in service at that time.
I could possibly be a specialized apparatus like a chemical wagon or a ladder wagon.
I'm going to keep digging and I'll get back to you when I find any more info.
Bob -
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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on
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The Rig is a Ladder , without tiller and basicly a city service type, meaningas best as Ican tell its a carrage witha ground ladder compliment on board , You'll also notice aman standing on the running board , generally speaking the carrage doesnt seem long enough tobe a ladder ,but I think the quality of the photography, lens and all makeit seem shorter .. By looking at the Ladies Fashions I would say definately between the 1880's to very early 1900's pre WW l and there is one picture that shows 3/4 length coats the shape of the kepi makes me wonder if those are police uniforms or Fire, butI also know thatmost cities in new england at thetime wore kepis ( similar to civil war service caps) its "possible " that this could even be of a funeral prosession say for a dignitary such as after the assination of a president ... was it Harding? that was shot at the oolumbia exposition in buffalo? Just a thought ,not based on anything of course... After being shot he hung on for a few days TeddyRoosevelt was in the aderondacs and was summoned ,, I suppose it could have been possible .. anyway Just a thought... I think it looks like a bigger city...
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