United Firemen's Insurance Co of Philadelphia

The United Firemen's Insurance Company of Philadelphia was incorporated in 1860 by a group of 28 fire and hose companies, many of which were the first purchasers of the new steam engine. When they issued their first fire mark in 1862, they even decided to use a steam engine on it. Their oval mark was of cast iron construction and measured 11.75" X 9.0".

This mark is of metal (non ferous) construction, cast by John Wright and measures approximately 10.75" X 9.0". This is the rarer 3-D Design which has the Company name spelled out instead of just using the U P letters. It is black mark with a raised 3-D Green (usually seen in red) Steam Engine and raised Gold Lettering. It is in very good condition with only minor nicks/chips/paint, which adds to the vintage/antique look and feel of its appearance. This mark is rare and not one of the ones that is regularly seen up for sale.

This would make an excellent addition for any collector of firefighting or insurance memorabilia, an agent/broker, or a insurance company employee/retiree.

American insurance company’s fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not suffer greatly if the building was destroyed. Additionally, the mark stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a blaze on the premises.