Description
You are bidding on an EXCEEDINGLY RARE example of an 1800s British Siebe Gorman & Co. Fireman’s Smoke Helmet! This comes COMPLETE with its original matching Air Bellows, making it an EXCEPTIONAL surviving matched set!
Siebe Gorman & Company of London, one of the most important early manufacturers of diving and breathing apparatus, developed these smoke helmets as life-saving equipment for fire brigades entering burning structures. Produced in 1878, and based on similar principles used in early diving systems (also rumored to have been the inspiration for Darth Vader’s helmet), the helmet utilized an external air supply delivered via manually operated bellows. The firefighter would wear the helmet, while an assistant operated the bellows outside the structure, forcing fresh air through a hose into the helmet, allowing extended entry into smoke-filled environments. These helmets typically featured a leather body with a rigid metal faceplate and mica viewing windows, offering both protection and visibility. When in use, signals were given by tugs on the hose – 1 tug was for more air, 2 tugs less air and 3 was for help. Due to their specialized use and heavy wear in service, surviving examples are scarce today, and complete systems are exceedingly difficult to find.
What makes this example particularly significant is the inclusion of the ORIGINAL bellows, constructed of leather, wood, and brass, and still fully functional. The vast majority of surviving helmets are encountered alone, with the bellows long separated or lost to time. The presence of both components together represents a rare opportunity to acquire a near-complete period breathing apparatus system of museum-level display quality.
Made by Siebe Gorman and Co., of leather with a metal aluminum/brass faceplate, this 1880s British Fireman’s Smoke Helmet is EXCELLENT used condition! Some slight marks and wear, due to the age, but nothing that detracts. The leather body and skirt are both intact and remain soft and supple throughout, with only minor age-related wear, including slight cracking to some strap retaining loops. The air intake fitting is COMPLETE and ORIGINAL with all threads present. The front features a large ORIGINAL brass Siebe Gorman and Co., maker’s plate prominently mounted, clearly indicating;
EVERYTHING FOR SAFETY EVERYWHERE
SIEBE-GORMAN & CO. LTD.
NEPTUNE WORKS
CHESSINGTON, SURREY
MANUFACTURES OF
MINE AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY APPLIANCES
The dual front access doors open and close properly, with solid original hinges. It features mica viewing panels, that are all intact with no cracks or replacements (only showing light clouding consistent with age). The interior is EXCELLENT and unusually complete, retaining the original liner, straps, chinstrap, and full harness system (the only noted deviation is a likely modern replacement drawstring for the liner tongues).
The accompanying bellows is of an very early type, and is constructed of leather, wood, and brass. It remains FULLY FUNCTIONAL, still compressing and drawing air as intended. This is also marked with an original MATCHING Siebe Gorman and Co. manufacture plate, along with an instruction label indicating:
CODE OF SIGNALS BY MEANS OF LIFE LINE
FROM WEARER OF SMOKE HELMET:
1 PULL – MORE AIR REQUIRED.
2 PULLS – SLACK OFF LIFELINE.
3 PULLS – HELP ME OUT IMMEDIATELY.
TO WEARER OF SMOKE HELMET:
3 PULLS – COME OUT IMMEDIATELY.
While the original hose is no longer present, all connection points and fittings remain intact. The bellows shows no structural issues and presents extremely well. Overall, the set appears to be in strong ORIGINAL condition with no significant restoration; there may be minor conservation to one small leather area and a few period-replaced brass screws, but nothing detracting from its originality. The metal components show a light, even patina with no significant corrosion. This set reportedly originated from a museum collection, further supporting its preservation and completeness. An EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and highly displayable example of early firefighting and breathing apparatus history, I have shown this EXACT type in use in the last photos. A STUNNING and increasingly difficult example to find in this COMPLETE configuration, it would a PERFECT item for any collection or display!
