Fire Engine

State of the art for its time, this 18th century hand pump fire engine made extinguishing fires, a major hazard of the era, faster and safer

Historical Period

Colonization and Settlement

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10 Analysis questions 4 Vocabulary Words

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About

This advanced fire engine was designed by Richard Newsham, a button maker in London, and patented on December 26, 1721. Newsham's "new water engine for quenching and extinguishing fires" significantly advanced firefighting. The fire engine differed greatly from older models because it had a 125 gallon reservoir that could be filled directly from a well rather than the traditional method of filling with buckets of water. It also sprayed water in a continuous stream, while others only sprayed water in spurts. The stream was powerful enough that the water could reach most building roofs and break glass windows to soak the interior.

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Fire Engine

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Analysis Questions

Foster inquiry and understanding with these source-specific questions, designed to be accessible even for those with limited background knowledge.

say hello to the source

1

What do you notice about this object?
2

What do you wonder about this object, which is over two hundred years old?

make observations

3

What parts does this object have?

interpret what you see

4

Do you have any guesses about what this object is?
5

This is a hand pump fire engine designed in 1721. It was an important invention that made it much easier to spray water on a fire to put it out. Now that you know what it is, do you have any ideas about how its parts worked?
6

What’s the same and what’s different about this fire engine and the fire engines you are familiar with today?

use it as evidence

7

At the time that this fire engine was built, house fires were very common and could be extremely destructive and dangerous. What do you know about life in the past that might have made house fires more common long ago?
8

Before the invention of fire engines like this one, most fires were put out by throwing buckets of water onto the fire. How do you think the people in the community who purchased this fire engine might have felt? Why?
9

Can you think of a tool or machine we use today that makes a hard job easier, just like fire trucks do now?
10

In what ways would this fire engine have contributed to the common good of the community where it was used?

Vocabulary

Use these related vocabulary terms to build students’ understanding and support more meaningful discussions and learning outcomes in your classroom.

Definition

shared by and beneficial to all or most members of a community

Example

Stop signs serve the common good by keeping everyone safe on the road by preventing accidents.

Definition

something that causes ruin

Example

Huge trees fell down and many homes flooded due to the destructive storm.

Definition

danger or risk

Example

In the winter time, ice can be a big hazard on the sidewalk because people may slip and fall.

Definition

something made for the first time

Example

The light bulb was an important invention that allowed people to light their homes and streets without using candles.

Citation & Details

Citations

Creator: Newsham & Ragg
Date Created: 1744-1765
Format: Artifact (Object)
Materials and Measurements: Wood, wrought iron, tinned iron, copper alloys, leather & oil paint. Cylinder interior dia: 5 ¾", Tub width: 21 ¾", Brakes width: 46 ½", Tub length: 90 ¼", Overall max. length: 114 ½", Overall height: 67"
Point of Origin: London, England
Object Identifier #: 1960-236,1