United Firemen's Insurance Company Fire Mark
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The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer\u00e2\u0080\u0099s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder\u00e2\u0080\u0099s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured."}, {"label": "Description (Brief)", "content": "The United Firemen\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Insurance Company issued this fire mark in 1878. The oval cast iron mark features a central image of a steam-powered fire engine in relief, with an raised header text that reads \u00e2\u0080\u009cUNITED FIREMEN\u00e2\u0080\u0099S INS. CO.\u00e2\u0080\u009d It appears as if the engine and text were originally painted gold, which has subsequently worn off. A policy number can be seen at the bottom of the mark, but it is illegible. The United Firemen's Insurance Company was incorporated in 1860 by a group of 28 engine and hose companies that were not part of the Fire Association of Philadelphia. Since the Fire Association did not pay dividends to companies that were not members, these twenty-eight companies formed the new United Firemen's Insurance Company of Philadelphia to profit from the insurance business. Steam fire engines were a new technology in 1860, and the UFI's use of a steamer on its fire mark shows a desire to be associated with the latest innovations in firefighting and prevention."}, {"label": "Location", "content": "Currently not on view"}], "creditLine": [{"label": "Credit Line", "content": "Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection"}], "name": [{"label": "maker", "content": "unknown"}], "topic": [{"label": "subject", "content": "Insurance"}], "place": [{"label": "place made", "content": "United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia"}], "physicalDescription": [{"label": "Physical Description", "content": "cast iron (overall material)"}, {"label": "Measurements", "content": "overall: 9 1/8 in x 11 1/8 in; 23.1775 cm x 28.2575 cm"}], "dataSource": [{"label": "Data Source", "content": "National Museum of American History"}], "objectType": [{"label": "Object Name", "content": "fire mark"}]}}, "url": "edanmdm:nmah_1342172", "hash": "e83041c8a9c8fd92fa16df2e2619ccb74758f1ef", "docSignature": "ee341c764b01f893c91cf87d860289b1", "timestamp": 1664882422, "lastTimeUpdated": 1664882412, "title": "United Firemen's Insurance Company Fire Mark"}