Item description for UF FIRE MARK: United Firemen's Insurance Co of Philadelphia-Armetale-MARKER/SIGN

United Firemen's Insurance Co of Philadelphia

The United Firemen's Insurance Company of Philadelphia was incorporated in 1860 by a group of 28 fire and hose companies, many of which were the first purchasers of the new steam engine. When they issued their first fire mark in 1862, they even decided to use a steam engine on it. This oval mark was of cast iron construction and measured 11.75” X 9.0”.

This mark is of armetale construction, measuring approximately 11.5" X 9.0" and is a Wilton casting. It has a raised Red Steam Engine and raised letters U and P on each side. It has an unpainted surface with a silver/pewter look and feel of its appearance. Check out our other Armetale fire mark listings. This is not a mark the is regularly seen for sale.

This would make an excellent addition for any collector of firefighting or insurance memorabilia, an agent/broker, or a insurance company employee/retiree.

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 greatly suffer if the building were 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.