Collecting antique fire memorabilia is HOT!
Fire memorabilia is a hot collecting category. Pardon the pun! Antique and early items from badges, bells, engine lights, fire extinguishers, hose nozzles, buckets and more are highly regarded and prized right now. As with other areas of collecting, top dollar goes to certain objects with specific attributes and your antique store in Southampton knows this.
In the early days, fire protection was a for-pay service. As a form of insurance, members were issued a metal plaque called a firemark to put on the front of their house to indicate that they were covered. The fire brigade would see it and stop. Someone without a firemark was out of luck. Naturally, original firemarks are highly collectible. They have also been widely reproduced since the beginning so it makes finding an original all the more special.
Before bullhorns, fire trumpets were for speaking. In the United States, they go back to the 1700s. A fire trumpet was a metal cone up to 25 inches high with a flared bottom. They were used to communicate where the fire was located or to warn the public to stay out of the area until a fire could be contained.
Another area of fire memorabilia is a fire badge. These were badges sewn onto firefighter’s uniforms and value depends on company and markings. Some sell anywhere from $20 to $100, again based on rarity. If you are lucky enough to find one in good condition, add it to your collection!
Most current collectors go for fire items where they can connect. Some like regional fire companies. Others prefer items marked with obscure and/or obsolete companies. Others still want marked early items from existing companies in major cities. The desire varies and is solely personal taste. Some look to collect only fire extinguishers and aren’t concerned about where they necessarily come from.
What is the obsession with collecting antique fire memorabilia anyway? For some, it is a chance to hold on to our nation’s past. Fire prevention and safety has been around for decades and the allure of certain objects helps us see how far we’ve come. For others, maybe a family member was a firefighter and that allure of displaying items that remind them of their family’s heritage is important to them. No matter why people choose to collect anything, there is always a demand for them.
At Antique Allure, we have many vendors with fire memorabilia. You have to visit our shop to see what we have because inventory shifts all the time. What we can tell you, however, is that there is always something to discover here. We have fire alarm boxes and bells, signs and even toy fire trucks. There is something for everyone, no matter what you are collecting.
Antique Allure is 6,000 square feet of antique and vintage bliss with great deals every day. We are your premiere antique store in Southampton. Our store is a great place to shop for not only fire memorabilia but also just about anything antique and vintage you can imagine.
