antique firefighter helmets for sale It soon became evident that specific apparel and headgear were
required to protect those on the front
lines when fire wards or brigades were established in larger American cities. Like military units before
them, fire brigades adopted helmets during the mid-18th century. Jacobus Turck, who designed the
leather stovepipe-shaped hat in New York City circa 1740, is credited with creating the first fire
design. Matthew DuBois enhanced the form by adding iron wire around the rim to maintain its shape and
increase its resistance to heat.
Other types of fire hats were made of papier-mâché, wool, or pressed felt, but these were usually more
for identification than for protection. Toward the end of the 19th century, aluminum helmets also became
antique firefighter helmets for sale available, but they were much less common due to the material’s high
price.
Firefighters in hook-and-ladder companies wore red helmets, Chief Engineers wore white, Fire Wardens
wore black brims on white caps, and members of engine companies wore black hats, all of which denoted
rank or position within a particular
.
One of the most well-known early manufacturers of fire helmets was Henry Gratacap, a foreman in the New York City Fire Department. For the next thirty years, Gratacap, who started his company in 1836, was the primary manufacturer of fire hats for New York City. He equipped his helmets with an eagle shield holder, which protruded from the top of the cap to accommodate a sizable shield emblem above the front brim. The position of their owner, brigade number, and unit location were typically displayed on these frontispieces. Helmet shields were frequently made from tooled leather pieces and, depending on the unit’s assignment, also featured painted images of engines, ladders, or hoses.