LATE 19TH C W. D. ALLEN MFG. CO. 'UNDERWRITER' PLAY PIPE FIRE NOZZLE, CHICAGO IL

Description

RARE
LATE 19TH CENTURY
AME
RI
CAN
ANTIQUE
W. D. ALLEN MFG. CO.
'UNDERWRITER'
BLACK STENCILED BRASS
& WOUND RED PAINTED
CORD, DOUBLE HANDLED PLAY
PIPE FIRE
NOZZLE,
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
[With original, naturally aged brass patina]
Circa 1881-1900
Late 19th century
Ame
ri
can
brass fire hoses & nozzles
& firefighting water pressure accessories
DIMENSIONS:
30" in total length x 8" in width (handle and widest point) with 1
⅛
" nozzle tip opening and 3 1/2" base width
MARKINGS:
'W. D. Allen Mfg. Co. Chicago, IL
2 1⁄2" N.S.T.,
Dated 12-11-59'
'Underwriter'
DESCRIPTION:
This
late 19th century
Ame
ri
can
antique
H. D. Allen manufacturing company, Chicago, Illinois
for '
Underwriter'
insurance company and testing firefighting
'play pipe
' brass with wound red painted wound cord mid-section cover, is absolutely 100% undisturbed and untouched and remains in nearly originally constituted condition. The brass nozzle tip and brass two-handed gun handle both still have their original, unpolished, naturally aged brass patina. The
'play pipe'
fire nozzle was only carefully dusted with a fine red sable brush in order to remove years of dust and silt. The wound, thick cord that envelopes the main brass shaft of the nozzle is intact as well, only hiding a few very shallow dings, found mostly on the underside of the shaft tube. The 2-part nozzle is largely free of dings, dents, noticeable abrasions and scuffs. The wear found on its edges and surfaces is entirely commensurate and consistent with its antique pedigree. The 2-handed lower gun handle has a few abrasions on the extreme margins of the hand grasps. The threaded interior of the base is also without any interruptions or loss of brass. The threading of the nozzle tip is also without defects. The charcoal black stenciled
'Underwriter'
marking is still readable and clear. Recently found at an antiques flea-market in southern New Hampshire in the wee hours of the morning, this antique
Ame
ri
can
firefighting
'play pipe'
was once used to test the water pressure in a tanker truck and from city hydrants, essential  in determining, should there be a fire, would the city and firefighters have enough water pressure on hand to sufficiently fight a significant and large fire, which were unfortunately quite common and resulted in terrible loss of civilian life and conjoined properties in
late 19th century
urban
Ame
ri
ca.
This firefighting
play pipe
was once such tool used to accurately make this life or death determination. An outstanding
Ame
ri
can
antique cultural artifact. Extraordinary.
CONDITION:
Good to Very Good overall antique condition. There are three instances of minor, very shallow dings on the underside of the threaded main shaft of the
play pipe.
These would be evidence of previous use and are commensurate with and consistent with a previously used piece of antique firefighting equipment such as this.