FIRE MARK HANDS: Philadelphia Contributioship Insurance Metal Plaque MARKER/SIGN

Description

Philadelphia Contributionship
Hand in Hand
The Philadelphia Contributionship is best known for being America's
Oldest Insurance Company, having been founded in March 1752 by the
famous Benjamin Franklin.
Their fire mark was modeled after the one issued by the Amicable Contributorship
of London. “Contribution” was defined as “that which is given by several hands for
some common purpose” symbolized by the company’s claspped hands logo. Their
mark had four hands crossed and clasped in a form commonly known as
“Jacob’s Chair”. As was the case with the Amicable  Contributionship, the
Philadelphia Contributionship also became known in  America as the Hand in Hand.
The clasped hands were of lead construction  mounted on a wood shield. The first
100 were cast by John Snow, who later  recast the Liberty Bell.
When the first Continental Congress met in 1774, the location was Carpenter’s
Hall, a Philadelphia building cooperatively owned by local carpenters.
Housed on the hall’s second floor was the Library Company, another
cooperative founded by Ben Franklin. In fact, the Continental Congress used
the Library Company’s books as it drafted the documents that gave birth to
the United States of America. Both Carpenter’s Hall and the Library Company
were insured, of course, by the Philadelphia Contributionship
This Philadelphia Contributionship fire mark is of metal (non ferous)
construction, measuring approximately8.75" X 10.25" and was cast by Reinhard Kern.
There is some paint loss with age weathering, giving a nice vintage look
and feel to the mark. This is a mark not frequently seen and 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.
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