Fire Bucket, "CHICAGO. I.L.L. 1821", circa 1821

01

Artifact Overview

Many home and business owners in colonial and early America kept leather fire buckets in case of emergency. When a fire broke out in the community, owners tossed their buckets into the street, where firefighters and local citizens used them to carry water to put out the fire. Buckets decorated with names, initials and numbers helped owners identify their buckets after the fire had been extinguished.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Fire bucket

Date Made

circa 1821

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

36.4.98

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Rubber
Paint (Coating)
Leather

Color

Red
Yellow (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 12.5 in
Diameter: 9.125 in

Inscriptions

CHICAGO I.L.L. 1821 No. 10
Fire Bucket, "CHICAGO. I.L.L. 1821", circa 1821