Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Firemen's bed wrenches ....and why were they called that

In Firefighting > Show & Tell and Tools and Hardware > Wrenches > Show & Tell.
Recent Activity92 of 1751929 snap on  3/8 driveAntique goodrich rachet wrench
9
Love it
0
Like it

Collectables59Collectables59 loves this.
kyratangokyratango loves this.
billretirecollbillretirecoll loves this.
Horseradishman1Horseradishman1 loves this.
Irishcollector.Irishcollector. loves this.
lzenglishlzenglish loves this.
pw-collectorpw-collector loves this.
iggyiggy loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
See 7 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 7 years ago

    hotairfan
    (388 items)

    Photos #1,#2,&#3 are of 18th Century bed wrenches. Photo #4 is of three 19th Century bed wrenches.
    So.... why are they called firemen's wrenches? Most firemen of the 18th Century carried these hand forged bed wrenches with them when they were called to a fire. Why? The reason being is that most fires of the time, more often than not resulted in the house or building burning to the ground. getting to the fire took a lot more time than today, there was only buckets to douse the flames with water, and the houses were primarily built of wood resulting in total burn down. Not to mention the fact that , in cities, fire companies used to fight over who would get to put out the fire, even sending the other station to the wrong address so they could get the fire call.
    The reason for the firemen's wrench was...... The first thing that the firefighters did when they came to a burning house, was to take apart the home owner's bed and get it out of the building. The bed could be re assembled in the barn and at least the home owner had a place to sleep

    logo
    Firefighting
    See all
    Vintage Gamewell fire alarm Box w/ key
    Vintage Gamewell fire alarm Box w/ ...
    $250
    1880s Fire Engine Vintage Style Firefighter Advertising Poster - 24x30
    1880s Fire Engine Vintage Style Fir...
    $23
    Antique Vintage Style Heavy Cast Iron County Fire Office Sign 1807 Fireman
    Antique Vintage Style Heavy Cast Ir...
    $42
    Vintage N.Y.F.D. Cairns Black Leather Fire Helmet Firefighter #3 Lieutenant
    Vintage N.Y.F.D. Cairns Black Leath...
    $570
    logo
    Vintage Gamewell fire alarm Box w/ key
    Vintage Gamewell fire alarm Box w/ ...
    $250
    See all

    Comments

    1. blunderbuss2 blunderbuss2, 7 years ago
      Pretty serious weapons for the companies to fight each other with while the buildings burned down. LOL
    2. lzenglish lzenglish, 7 years ago
      hotairfan, i have said it before and will say it again, YOU come up with some of the Most Interesting pieces, that i never new existed, and always with a history write up too boot! Thanks for Sharing these!
    3. hotairfan hotairfan, 7 years ago
      Thank you, Izenglish, for your nice comments
    4. billretirecoll billretirecoll, 7 years ago
      Thank you for the post hotairfan, I never would've thunk it! :^)

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.