Early 1900's press photograph of a devastating fire in a lino (linoleum) factory in Muswell Hill London, WC1. The firemen are wearing typical 'Merryweather' brass helmets that were designed in the Victorian era and double breasted tunics, there are other fire service personnel wearing caps, the man front left appears to be taking notes, maybe an inspector inspecting the damage. circa 1929.
On reverse is printed: Graphic Photo Union, 200 Grays Inn Road. The Graphic Photo Union company took over the studios of Henry Maull & Co. of 200 Gray's Inn October 1928. so this helps date the photo to after 1928. The collar of the man in the front is also typical of the 1920's. The brass helmets were replaced in 1938. Further history of these helmets is provided online by the London Fire Brigade " The brass helmet was introduced to London Fire Brigade in 1868 after the first chief officer, Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, was inspired by the French ‘Pompiers’ he saw in Paris. It’s the longest serving helmet in the Brigade’s history and was only replaced over 70 years later (in 1938). It was adopted by almost all the British fire brigades and became an iconic symbol of the British fire service. In 1938 the ‘Gold Comb’ fire helmet came along. It was made of cork and rubber and replaced the famous brass helmet once and for all. Although in use for only three years it influenced the general shape and style for the Brigade’s helmets for many years to come. The change was made as the use of electricity became more widespread - brass was a conductor unlike compressed cork. The double breasted navy blue ‘Melton Cloth’ tunic was the mainstay of the Brigade uniform for over a hundred years. " Since lino - a floor covering - was then made from inflammable materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine resin, ground cork dust, sawdust it's not surprising the premises caught fire! NOTE: This photo has damage to top right hand corner.
Size: 8000px × 5642px
Location: Muswell Hill Park, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © ThislifeThen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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