Fire Department Insurance Company of Cincinati

The Fire Department’s Insurance Company was established in 1837 when the volunteer fire engine companies in Cincinnati started an insurance company for the benefit of the department. Each fireman could hold only 50 shares personally, and each fire company could hold no more that 1,500 shares though its individual members or by itself. Ten percent of the dividend was given to the Fire Association of Cincinnati to create a fund for the relief of sick or disabled firemen.


The Fire Department’s Insurance Company of Cincinnati, Ohio issued this fire mark around 1837. This oblong oval cast iron fire mark features a raised central image of a double-decker hand pumped fire engine. It measured 7.875” X 6.125” and was of cast iron construction. This sale is for a fire pumper mark measuring approximately 9.75" X 9.25" and is of cast iron construction. It has the VM (with the Betty Lamp image in the middle) mark of the well known Virginia Metalcrafters on the back. The mark is in very good condition with very little paint loss, which actually adds to its vintage look and feel. This mark is one that is not regularly seen for sale.

Fire Department Insurance Company of Cincinnati

The Fire Department’s Insurance Company was established in 1837 when the volunteer fire engine companies in Cincinnati started an insurance company for the benefit of the department. Each fireman could hold only 50 shares personally, and each fire company could hold no more that 1,500 shares though its individual members or by itself. Ten percent of the dividend was given to the Fire Association of Cincinnati to create a fund for the relief of sick or disabled firemen.


The Fire Department’s Insurance Company of Cincinnati, Ohio issued this fire mark around 1837. This oblong oval cast iron fire mark features a raised central image of a double-decker hand pumped fire engine. It measured 7.875” X 6.125” and was of cast iron construction.  This sale is for a fire pumper mark measuring approximately 9.625" X 9.125", is of  metal (non ferris) construction and cast by Iron Master. The mark is in very good condition with very little paint loss, which actually adds to its vintage look and feel. This mark is one that is not regularly seen for sale.

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