Great American Fire Marks Collection
The Franklin Mint
Sponsored and presented by The National Fire Museum, this collection recreates fifteen of the most prized and historic original Fire Marks. They are crafted in fine pewter and the raised images are hand-painted in brilliant color. The marks range in size from approximately 2.25"-2.5" by 3.25"-3.5". The fire mark in this listing represent the following company:
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Philadelphia Contributionship
Hand in Hand
The Philadelphia Contributionship is best known for being America's Oldest Insurance Company, having been founded in March 1752 by the famous Benjamin Franklin.
Their fire mark was modeled after the one issued by the Amicable Contributionship of London. “Contribution” was defined as “that which is given by several hands for some common purpose” symbolized by the company’s claspped hands logo. Their mark had four hands crossed and clasped in a form commonly known as “Jacob’s Chair”. As was the case with the Amicable Contributionship, the Philadelphia Contributionship also became known in America as the Hand in Hand. The clasped hands were of lead construction mounted on a wood shield. The first100 were cast by John Snow, who later recast the Liberty Bell.
When the first Continental Congress met in 1774, the location was Carpenter’s Hall, a Philadelphia building cooperatively owned by local carpenters. Housed on the hall’s second floor was the Library Company, another cooperative founded by Ben Franklin. In fact, the Continental Congress used the Library Company’s books as it drafted the documents that gave birth to the United States of America. Both Carpenter’s Hall and the Library Company were insured, of course, by the Philadelphia Contributionship.
The Mark is approximately 2.0" X 3.25" and is cast pewter construction with the four interlocking hands. It is in good condition with a nice vintage look and feel about them.
A must for any Firefighter, or Insurance Memorabilia Collector
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.
