Fire Hat
PeriodCirca 1912
Place MadeNew York, U.S.A.
Place MadeNew York, New York, U.S.A.
MediumPainted tin, leather, canvas
Dimensions9 × 10.75 × 14.5 in. (22.9 × 27.3 × 36.8 cm)
Inscribed"Edward Cuttrell Keyport N.J." written in bold black ink along the canvas sweatband.
SignedInside helmet, small gilded metal vent disc impressed with "Cairns & Bro. / New York / Ventilated Hat."
ClassificationsCostume, Men's
Credit LineMuseum Collection, 2025
Object number2025.500
DescriptionA man's fire helmet, with a high ribbed crown with narrow vertical reinforcement panels. The hat brim is curved and lightly embossed with scrolling, with a deep overhang above the neck and a sturdy rolled edge, with both crown and brim painted a light tan.A large red leather shield shaped panel is mounted to the helmet front, with thick leather lettering "RARITAN / HOSE / 2 / EC" atop narrow black backing. A gilded metal eagle surmounts the crown and forms a supportive brace or bracket for the leather panel. The inside of the helmet includes a sturdy tan cotton canvas sweatband, edged with black leather.Curatorial RemarksEdward Cuttrell's metal and leather fire helmet was manufactured by the Cairns and Brother firm in the late19th century. Henry T.Gratacap (1812-1888) founded his self-named company and specialized in producing military helmets. Gratacap is credited with introducing the classic and still-recognizable fire helmet. Gratacap served as a foreman in the New York City Fire Department in or around 1828. At that time, firemen wore reinforced painted leather "stovetop" hats which did very little to protect firefighters. Gratacap's design included a reinforced ribbed dome surmounted with a decorative eagle. The most distinctive feature was the elongated back brim (often called a "duckbill" or "beaverbill") which shielded the wearer's neck from heat and particularly falling water and debris. In his catalogues, Gratacap called this model the "New Yorker." Gratacap's firm also produced luggage. In the 1850 Federal Census, Gratacap was noted as a "Military Cap Maker." At some point - dates differ and range from 1850 to1868 or 1869 - Gratacap sold his company to brothers Jasper and Henry Cairns. The Cairns brothers continued to manufacture fire helmets and safety equipment, and retained Gratacap's helmet design. In 1932, descendant Edward Cairns received a patent for an updated and streamlined interpretation of Gratacap's original design.NotesEdward Cuttrell was born in 1842 in New Jersey. His father, Edward Cuttrell Sr. (1816-1895) was born in New York and moved to the Keyport area of Monmouth County in the early 1840s. Cuttrell no doubt moved to take advantage of the vibrant shipbuilding industry in Keyport. He worked as a ship's carpenter. Edward Jr. followed his father into the shipbuilding industry and apprenticed as a ship's carpenter. Cuttrell married Elmira Walling, and the couple raised their family in their home on Elizabeth Street in Keyport. Cuttrell was a founding member of the Eagle Hose Company, organized in 1907 in Keyport in response to a need for additional fire protection. In 1909, Cuttrell was elected as President of the Hose Company. In 1912, the group was reorganized and renamed the Raritan Hose Company. It was at that time that the firemen posed for a formal studio group portrait, wearing their firefighting gear, including helmets. Edward Cuttrell can be seen in the portrait, kneeling in front at left, wearing the helmet later donated to the Historical Association. According to his 1914 obituary, Cuttrell lost the use of his right hand sometime around 1900 due to an abscess. Edward Cuttrell was buried in Green Grove Cemetery in Keyport.
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