19th century Firefighter button. My best button find.

[Kmatch7]

Posted this in general forum by accident as well. Wanted to share this pretty awesome buttton I dug today. Came up 71-73 on at pro about 5 inches down. Didn’t find much else just a wheatie and friend found a couple buckles but overall great day out. I am trying to figure out what he is holding in his lower hand.the back is blank I believe.

 

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[redbeardrelics]

If I remember right, Baltimore had the first public gas street light system in the States. It is also safe to say that in Baltimore during the 1820-1860 era, many of the fires that occurred were intentionally set by the competing fire companies-clubs-gangs. I interpret that button as possibly being a bit sarcastic, for lack of a better word, in that it appears the person alerting the public of a fire, is the arsonist himself? An excellent read on the subject is "Hanging Henry Gambrill, The Violent Career of Baltimore's Plug Uglies, 1854-1860" by Tracy Matthew Melton.

That is a fascinating find you made, and I hope you are able to find out more about it.

 

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[Gene Mean]

Great button! Big too.

 

[A2coins]

Great piece I would love to have that one well done

 

[redbeardrelics]

If I remember right, Baltimore had the first public gas street light system in the States. It is also safe to say that in Baltimore during the 1820-1860 era, many of the fires that occurred were intentionally set by the competing fire companies-clubs-gangs. I interpret that button as possibly being a bit sarcastic, for lack of a better word, in that it appears the person alerting the public of a fire, is the arsonist himself? An excellent read on the subject is "Hanging Henry Gambrill, The Violent Career of Baltimore's Plug Uglies, 1854-1860" by Tracy Matthew Melton.

That is a fascinating find you made, and I hope you are able to find out more about it.

The more I look at it, the more inclined I am to think that the motif on the button is similar to the type of ironic and sarcastic humor seen in many early to mid 19th century political cartoons. I suspect it may have been a way that the Associated Firemen's Insurance Company of Baltimore marketed the so called protections of their insurance vs. the so called protections that the local fire companies-clubs -gangs offered. The insurance companies wanted the publics premiums, and the local fire companies wanted the publics contributions, patronage and praise.

PS. Just had some coffee, and think satire might have been the word I was looking for instead of sarcastic.
If any of what I am suggesting has any merit, it still does not explain how or why that motif shows up on what appears to be a button?