Extinguishing Collection

Rejected by the inventions board

1st Petrol Fire-Engine
A combination fire-fighting engine, with chemical fire extinguishing apparatus and a fire-escape ladder. This model was the first petrol motor fire-engine in the world

Fire sprinklers, 19th century
Fire sprinklers. This system of sprinklers was designed to extinguish fires, and here has been installed in a theatre in 19th-century France

New German incendiary bomb by G. H. Davis
Details of the new German explosive incendiary bomb produced during the Second World War. Explanatory drawings showing how the bomb is constructed, and the proper methods of tackling it. Date: 1942

Firefighters training at Lambeth HQ, extinguishing an oil fire using water fog

Conflagration at Sir C. Prices Wharf, Blackfriars, 1845. Creator: Unknown
Conflagration at Sir C. Prices Wharf, Blackfriars, 1845. The London fire brigade attempting to extinguish a fire...in the warehouses belonging to Sir Charles Price and Co

Fire suppression systems
Illustration of a fire suppression systems

London street scenes
863262 London street scenes; (add.info.: London street scenes. Postman delivering letters: Fireman fighting a fire: Railway Porter with trolley of luggage: Policeman on crowd duty)

Scene of the fire at Dockhead, Bermondsey, sketched on Saturday morning, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Scene of the fire at Dockhead, Bermondsey, [London], sketched on Saturday morning, 1864. a great fire broke out in the waterside premises of Messrs

Burning of Covent-Garden Theatre, 1856. Creator: Unknown
Burning of Covent-Garden Theatre, [London], 1856. Inquiry into the cause of the fire: John Drake Palmer, gasman, said he had the entire management of the gas-fittings of the theatre

Ils voudraient éteindre jusqu'au soleil, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Ils voudraient eteindre jusqu'au soleil, 19th century. They would like to extinguish even the sun

Saint Gudula, 1516/1518. Creator: Leonhard Beck
Saint Gudula, 1516/1518

Ruins at Varna, after the recent fire, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Ruins at Varna, after the recent fire, 1854. Crimean War. Varna, which is one of the dirtiest labyrinths of modern times, was very nearly destroyed by the recent fire

Ruins of the Great Fire at Gravesend - High-Street - looking North, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Ruins of the Great Fire at Gravesend - High-Street - looking North, 1850. Many of [the buildings], notwithstanding that they were three or four stories high

Fire in All Saints Church, at Manchester, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Fire in All Saints Church, at Manchester, 1850....seven fire engines...were stationed in the yard attached to the church; four of them, the Vesta, Neptune, Mersey, and Waterwitch

The Fire-Brigade, 1850. Creator: Unknown
The Fire-Brigade, 1850. Fire in Lambeth, south London: The flames were first discovered by a policeman of the L division, and engines from various stations quickly arrived at the scene

The Fire-Brigade, 1850. Creator: Unknown
The Fire-Brigade, 1850. Fire in Lambeth, south London: In a very short period the window-frames at the back of the houses in the York-road caught fire

Firemen Fireman Tackling Fire-fighter Fire-fighters
Firemen tackle a city blaze after a bombing raid on London in 1940 during WWII. From The War in Pictures, Second Year

Fatal fire at HMV record store, Oxford Street, London
Fatal fire at the HMV record store, Oxford Street, London, 27 December 1937, showing firefighters in action with hoses at night. Date: 1937

Couples ingenious device so they don't wake up the baby. A makeshift pump that extinguishes incendiary bombs that have landed in your home without leaving the comfort of your bed. Date: 1941

Fires in theatres: Professor Peppers demonstrations at Sadlers Wells Theatre (engraving)
584260 Fires in theatres: Professor Peppers demonstrations at Sadlers Wells Theatre (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fires in theatres)

Lancashire miners extinguishing their lamps after ceasing work: Men on strike at Audenshaw pits. Date: October 1920

Virgil the Sorcerer, c. 1460-63 (engraving)
1216802 Virgil the Sorcerer, c.1460-63 (engraving) by Baldini, Baccio (c.1436-87); 29.2x42.6 cm; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN, USA; (add.info.: Publius Vergilius Maro (October 15)

Poster advertising the Remington Fire Engine manufactured by the Remington
NYH182469 Poster advertising the Remington Fire Engine manufactured by the Remington Agricultural Company, c.1890 (colour litho) by American School

Aristocratic lamp extinguishers

A Coal Mine on Fire (engraving)
1618184 A Coal Mine on Fire (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Coal Mine on Fire. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 9 June 1849)

Brazilian Revolution of 1930
The events in Recife during the Brazilian Revolution of 1930. On the left, government cavalry charges at a crowd. On the right, a house is on fire

The Fire on Board the "City of Richmond"(engraving)
1062588 The Fire on Board the " City of Richmond" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Fire on Board the " City of Richmond")

Experiments with the Pyroleter, for extinguishing Fire on Board Ship (engraving)
1611837 Experiments with the Pyroleter, for extinguishing Fire on Board Ship (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Experiments with the Pyroleter)

t Licht is op den kandelaer gestelt (oil on canvas)
3484058 t Licht is op den kandelaer gestelt (oil on canvas) by Dutch School, (17th century); 94.4x128.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: In the foreground, from left to right, there are a bishop)

A British regiment of dragoons using their swords to put out a fire (colour litho)
2780037 A British regiment of dragoons using their swords to put out a fire (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

At a costume ball in a town near Copenhagen (colour litho)
2777935 At a costume ball in a town near Copenhagen (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: At a costume ball in a town near Copenhagen, two young men)

Passepartout putting out the gas-light, from Around the World in Eighty Days
3501832 Passepartout putting out the gas-light, from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1828-1905), 1873 (engraving) by French School

Two Fools and Their Folly (engraving)
1626223 Two Fools and Their Folly (engraving) by Hardy, Evelyn Stuart (1865-1935); Private Collection; (add.info.: Two Fools and Their Folly)

The Recent Rioting in Canton (engraving)
1044619 The Recent Rioting in Canton (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Recent Rioting in Canton)

The Nun, from the Dance of Death, 1651. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
The Nun, from the Dance of Death, 1651

Saint Florian (restrike). Creator: Hans Schaufelein the Elder
Saint Florian (restrike)

Saint Florian, ca. 1460. Creator: Casper
Saint Florian, ca. 1460

Fire at Boston - from a drawing by Mr. W. Caister, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Fire at Boston - from a drawing by Mr. W. Caister, 1844. The Boston Herald:the town of Boston [Massachusetts] was visited by a most awful conflagration

Fighting a Fire, 1870s. Creator: William P. Chappel
Fighting a Fire, 1870s

A regiment of English dragoons puts out a fire with sabre blows, 1914. Creator: Unknown
A regiment of English dragoons puts out a fire with sabre blows, 1914. Un Regiment De Dragons Anglais Eteint Un Incendie A Coups De Sabre

How The London Fire Brigade Comes To Grips With Its Enemy, c1935. Creator: Unknown
How The London Fire Brigade Comes To Grips With Its Enemy, c1935. Fire brigade at the scene of a fire in London, with hoses being deployed from extending ladders

View of the Temporary Bridge of London on Fire... 1758. c1770. Artist: Charles Grignion
View of the Temporary Bridge of London on Fire in the Night of April 11th. 1758. c1770. Wooden bridge over the River Thames in flames as people watch from the bank

Fireman using a hose, London Fire Brigade Headquarters, London, 1910
Fireman on a training exercise using a hose, London Fire Brigade Headquarters, London, 1910. Firemen in brass helmets demonstrating motor fire escape vehicle ladder and first aid spray

Smoak Jack the alarmist, extinguishing the second Great Fire of London (a la Gulliver)!!!, 1819. Alderman Atkins stands on balcony of Mansion House directing a jet of water on little Jacobins below

Sir Walter Raleighs Pipe Put Out, c1884. Artist: Thomas Strong Seccombe
Sir Walter Raleighs Pipe Put Out, c1884. Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) was an English adventurer, explorer and writer, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, who knighted him in 1585

Firemen fighting a fire at a timber yard, London, 1926-1927. Illustration from Wonderful London, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, Volume I, published by Amalgamated Press, (London, 1926-1927)

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"From rejected ideas to life-saving innovations: the journey of extinguishing" In the 19th century, fire sprinklers emerged as a promising solution for combating flames. However, they were initially rejected by the inventions board, underestimating their potential. The advent of the first petrol fire-engine revolutionized firefighting techniques. This groundbreaking invention provided firefighters with a powerful tool to battle blazes more effectively. Amidst turbulent times, G. H. Davis introduced a new German incendiary bomb that posed immense threats during wartime. Its destructive power demanded innovative ways to extinguish its fiery havoc. One such incident occurred at Sir C. Prices Wharf in Blackfriars in 1845, where an unknown creator fought valiantly against a conflagration using primitive means. Their bravery highlighted the need for advanced fire suppression systems. Firefighters underwent rigorous training at Lambeth HQ to enhance their skills and readiness when facing dangerous infernos head-on. Their dedication ensured public safety and inspired others to develop labor-saving devices like those envisioned by William Heath Robinson. During World War II's Blitz in London, ingenious couples devised makeshift pumps from their bedsides to extinguish incendiary bombs landing in their homes without disturbing their sleeping baby—a testament to human resilience amidst chaos. John Lewis on Oxford Street became an unfortunate victim of fires during this tumultuous period but demonstrated unwavering determination and resilience amid destruction. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean in Texas, capping burning oil wells became an urgent challenge requiring specialized expertise and innovative methods—highlighting humanity's ability to overcome even nature's fury through collective efforts. Even theaters faced perilous fires that threatened lives; Professor Pepper's demonstrations at Sadler's Wells Theatre showcased both danger and innovation as audiences witnessed firefighting techniques firsthand—an unforgettable experience etched into history books forever. Through rejection or adversity, each chapter reveals our relentless pursuit of safer communities—where extinguishing flames becomes a shared responsibility, and the spirit of innovation continues to shine brightly.