FIRE MARK 1794: Baltimore Equitable Society Insurance Plaque- SIGN/MARKER

Description

Baltimore Equitable Society
On January 21, 1794, a number of respectable citizens assembled to establish a fire insurance company similar to that created in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. This meeting gave rise to the birth of the Baltimore Equitable Society.
By February 10, 1794, a constitution was drawn to govern the Baltimore Equitable Society for Insuring of Houses From Loss By Fire. Policy Number 1 was issued on April 10, 1794 and by December 27, the Society was incorporated. On
December 4, 1796, the Society sustained its first loss from fire when two brick houses were destroyed. The blaze consumed a number of other businesses, homes and a church in what amounted to the city's "Great Fire" to that date.
The Sign of the Clasped Hands Fire Mark was placed on homes insured by the Baltimore Equitable Society. The Society chose the clasped hands, depicting the hand of the company and the hand of the policy holder shaking, symbolizing the agreement by both parties to the contract of insurance. The original mark had a pair of cast iron hands mounted on a wood plaque. About 1837, they went to a full cast iron rectangular mark and around 1845 they added the 1794 date to their mark which measured 10.375" X 9.75".
The mark/plaque in this listing is of heavy (well over 8.5 lbs) cast iron
construction measuring approximately 10.25" X 9.50". It is an early John Wright cast
Fire Mark
. It's condition is reflective of age and exposure to the elements, with paint loss, nicks and chips in the surface plus overall rusting. All of this adds to the vintage look and feel.of this fire mark. This is not one of the marks regularly seen for sale. This mark/plaque is a very nice item and would make an excellent addition for any collection of fire marks, firefighting or insurance company memorabilia
American insurance company’s fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not suffer greatly if the building was destroyed. Additionally, the mark stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a blaze on the premises.
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