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A ZINC AND COPPER COW-FORM WEATHERVANELate 19th century
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Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 1
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 2
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 3
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 4
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 5
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 6
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 7
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 8
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 9
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 10
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 11
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 12
Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket, New England, late 19th century. image 13
Lot 67

Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket,
New England, late 19th century.

American Furniture & Decorative Arts | Bonhams Skinner
9 May 2023, 10:00 EDT
Skinner Marlborough, Massachusetts

Sold for US$20,400 inc. premium

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Working Model of the Hand-Drawn and Hand-Pump Engine Red Jacket,

New England, late 19th century.
Known as a "squirrel-tail" pumper, the model is made of brass, nickel-plated and polychrome-painted metal, the sides with raised brass lettering "RED JACKET" and conjoined "VFA" for the Veteran Firemen's Association, the rear painted "CAMBRIDGE," the square dome-cover is painted with the Massachusetts state seal, two images of Indians, and a coat of arms; it is outfitted with buckets, a main engine lamp flanked by an eagle figure, rubber hose, lanterns, nozzles, and a spool of rope, (which was used in conjunction with the draw bar for the men to pull the engine to a fire), overall ht. 13, lg. 36 1/4, ht. to top of brakes 6 3/4, wd. with brakes extended 12 in.; housed in a glazed mahogany and brass case, ht. 16 1/4, wd. 14 3/4, lg. 45 in., and is mounted with a small brass-framed placard inscribed "FACSIMILE OF THE ENGINE OWNED BY THE RED JACKET VETERAN FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION/CAMBRIDGE, MASS. This model has thrown a Horizontal Stream the distance of 48 Feet. A CHALLENGE -I will play this Model against any other of its size for $100.00 a side. W.T. KING, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. February, 21st, 1898."

Footnotes

Provenance
American Furniture and Decorative Arts, Skinner Auctions, Boston, Massachusetts, March 6, 2011, Lot 184.

Note
William T. King of Cambridge Massachusetts was a noted expert on steam fire engines and author of the book History of the American Steam Fire Engine, published by The Pinkham Press, 1896.

This model hand engine competed with other working models, similar in size, and of the same period. The reference on the placard "play this model" is synonymous with pumping the engine.

The original Red Jacket engine with serial number 364, was made by L. Button & Co., Waterford New York, in 1854. A late 19th century chromolithograph depicting the original Red Jacket engine bears the inscription: "Engine of the Red Jacket Veteran Firemen's Association, Cambridge, Mass./Champion of the New England League 1894./Awarded the Prize For Being the Handsomest Engine at N.E. League Tournament Held at Hartford, Conn. Sept. 12th 1895." The original Red Jacket engine is in the collection of the Westborough, Massachusetts, fire department.

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