1890's Fire Station Ribbon + 2 Detailed Enamel Buttons, American Flag Embroidery - Allen Fire Company No. 7 - Allentown, PA Whitehead & Hoag

For sale is an amazingly well preserved and premium fire company ribbon with multiple enamel buttons, embroidered embellishments and brass hardware/tassels.

The ribbon was produced in the late 19th Century circa 1894 by the Whitehead & Hoag Company based out of Newark, NJ. Please see the following link for a great brief history on this company which founded in 1892. This particular ribbon has multiple patents noted as 1892, 1893 and 1894 which makes this one of the earliest examples of a Whitehead and Hoag product.

https://medallicartcollector.com/whitehead-hoag.shtml

This ribbon would have been one of the premium offerings with all of the bells and whistles not commonly found in the majority of other fire company ribbons of this era. This particular example was produced for the Allen Fire Company No. 7, based in Allentown, PA. This fire company was the 6th company organized in Allentown in 1871 and was located on 136 Linden St.

https://www.iafflocal302.org/a-f-d-history/

The following info about Allen Company No. 7 is very cool as it is validated and depicted in the lower circular button on the ribbon. According to the 1884 History of Lehigh & Carbon Cos Pennsylvania with Illustrations page 141, the company utilized an "Amoskeag steamer and a four-wheeled hose-carriage".
As you will see in the circular enamel button, an Amoskeag steamer and a four wheeled hose carriage is featured!

http://tinyurl.com/3m8pxk3e

Let me back up and describe the ribbon from the top down. The top of features wide enameled plaque/pin with the face containing a brass border framing images of the hook and ladder, the bust of a fireman and what looks like a horn and trumpet to his right. Below in fine print is a patent note by Whitehead and Hoag and Newark, NJ. The rear of top plaque is another bronze panel with a hefty bronze pin attached.

Moving down you will find multiple layers of fine silk ribbon, the main red layer and upper white layer. Upon the white layer are 3D embroidered crisscrossing American flags on flag poles. Hanging at the bottom of that white ribbon is the second circular enamel pin which captures an action scene of Allen Company No. 7 hard at work with their equipment, trying to put out a raging fire in a few multi-story buildings!

Working below the circular button is the embroidered name of "Allen Fire Company, NO. 7, Allentown, PA. and completing the bottom of the red ribbon is fine brass/bronze metal woven horizontally and terminating with the same brass in small spiral tassels. As you will see in the photos, the reverse side of the red ribbon has the Whitehead and Hoag makers patched stitched on with their list of patents.

Whitehead and Hoag were passionate and proud of their products and made sure to stitch and stamp their name on every element of the piece. Their name is located on: Front and back of both enamel buttons and well as the top of white ribbon, hidden below top enamel plaque and on makers patch on rear of red ribbon. The amount of quality and detail that went into this piece is really amazing.

Condition wise, its amazing for its age. No chips or damage visible on enamel plaque or button. Very minor surface wear to brass border of top plaque which is barely noticeable and silk ribbons are in great condition with maybe some light discoloration to white layer and minor wear again barely noticeable. See images for details on condition.

Ribbon measures : 8 3/4" tall x 2 7/8" wide
Weighs approx. 25 grams

This item is sold AS IS and returns will not be accepted. All sales are final.