PHILADELPHIA STEAMER: Hand in Hand+FA Hydrant+Eagle Fire Mark-PLAQUE/MARKER/SIGN

Description

Philadelphia Steam Pumper & Companies Plaque
The City of Philadelphia was the birthplace of insurance in the Americas. The Philadelphia Contributionship, America's first Insurance Company was founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin. It was followed by Mutual Assurance and Insurance Company of North America, both of which were also be founded in Philadelphia.
This large plaque is of heavy cast metal construction and measure approximately 10.25" X 15.75". It shows an old time Steam Pumper, many of which the first purchasers of this new steam engine, were the early Philadelphia fire and hose companies. The plaque also has the fire marks of early Philadelphia Insurance Companies; Philadelphia Contributionship (1752), Insurance Company of North America (1792) and the Fire Association of Philadelphia (1817), along with miscellaneous fire equipment. This is either a limited Series or Custom item, as it is only the 2nd one of these I have ever seen. It would look great in a wall arrangement with fire marks all around it.
Philadelphia Contributionship
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 Hand in Hand Fire Mark had clasped hands, which were of lead construction and mounted on a wood shield. The first 100 were cast by John Snow, who later recast the Liberty Bell.
Insurance Company of North America
On November 19, 1792. A group of entrepreneurs led by John Nesbitt and another gentleman appropriately named Ebenezer Hazard, met in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, to create the Insurance Company of North America. INA wrote the first policy covering a ship and its cargo, in 1792. In 1794 they wrote the first life insurance policy, covering a sea captain.
Fire Association of Philadelphia
In 1817, several of the volunteer fire companies in Philadelphia formed the Fire Association. The mark shows an old fire plug with a length of hose and the initials of the Association on either side. The Fire Association later became Reliance Insurance Company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2000, ending a 183 year history.
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.
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