Associated Firemen’s of Baltimore

The Associated Firemen’s Insurance Company of Baltimore, Maryland issued this fire mark in 1848. The cast iron oval mark has a raised edge border, and raised central image of a fireman rushing to a fire blowing a trumpet and holding a burning brand. Associated Firemen’s operated from 1847 until 1899, when it was absorbed into the Fidelity Fire Insurance Company of Baltimore.

This mark measures approximately 8.75″ X 11.0″, is of heavy (6.0 lbs) cast iron construction. It is an early John Wright casting with mounting holes top and bottom. The mark shows some paint loss and rust/patina from exposure to the elements, which adds to the vintage look and feel of the mark. It would make an excellent addition for fire mark, fire fighting, insurance memorabilia collector, or insurance company employee or 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 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.