Horse-Drawn Steam Fire Engine, circa 1876
Add to SetSummary
Cole Brothers produced about 60 steam fire engines in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, from 1867 to 1880. Simple and rugged, their machines were all of the vertical piston and pump type. This engine is a third size (or third class) unit, which pumped about 550 to 600 gallons a minute. Henry Ford found this horse-drawn steam fire engine while on a trip to Willimantic, Connecticut, in 1928.
Cole Brothers produced about 60 steam fire engines in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, from 1867 to 1880. Simple and rugged, their machines were all of the vertical piston and pump type. This engine is a third size (or third class) unit, which pumped about 550 to 600 gallons a minute. Henry Ford found this horse-drawn steam fire engine while on a trip to Willimantic, Connecticut, in 1928.
Artifact
Steam pumper
Date Made
circa 1876
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, Rhode Island, Pawtucket
Creator Notes
Made by Cole Brothers, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
28.570.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Metal
Wood (Plant Material)
Brass (Alloy)
Copper (Metal)
Paint (Coating)
Color
Black (Color)
Gold (Color)
Red
Dimensions
Height: 111.5 in
Width: 69 in
Length: 147 in
Wheelbase: 79.25 in
Diameter: 56 in
Inscriptions
Marked in frame on rear of combustion chamber: WEBSTER / 1 On top stack of boiler: HARELL & HAYES. / Paterson NJ. Markings on three gauges on boiler: AMERICAN STEAM GAUGE CO. / BOSTON / ASHCROFT / STEAM GAUGE / T.W.LANE / PATENT / FEB 22 1859. Marked on brass band at base of air chamber: COLE BROTHERS BUILDERS / PAWTUCKET. R.I. PATENTED / AUGT. 20TH 1867; JULY 7TH AND 21ST 1868. Inscription on iron pipe right of frame with wheel at end: H.C. ASHTON / PAT, FEB 13, 1872 / PAT, OCT 27, 1874.
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
