F.I. Co Cast Iron Sign Repro

Got curious about how the original sign looks like but can't find an example.

 

It's supposed to be for a "Fire Insurance company" - called a "fire mark" I think and back a long time ago, every house or other building that had insurance against fire loss had one of these attached on the outside. I think the deal was that the householder arranged this fire coverage with a specific "fire brigade." If a covered property caught fire, the brigade would know they were responsible for putting the fire out.

In mid-20th century fantasy fire marks were used as decoration - often around the fireplace. My parents had a bunch hanging there.

 

Well I wasn't quite right (based the info in the article) but yours is a "fantasy" anyway.

http://www.firemarkcircle.org/documents/goodstory.htm

 

This fact was a source of much grief before fire stations were established by the communities.
Bullding owners would bid to have the firemen leave one burning building for another for more $.
I believe this happened in both the 'great' Chicago fire and the 1906 SF earthquake and fire.
A small note.... the USN did much to help people and keep looting down during the initial SF earthquake and fire panic.

 

San Francisco had a municipal fire department since 1849

Chicago since about 1835

 

Back in the 1990’s, when I still lived in the DC area, I was on the advisory board of the Firemen's Insurance Company of Washington, DC. The fire mark you show is similar to theirs, but it is actually the mark for the Firemen's Insurance Company of Baltimore, Maryland.

This original cast iron Fire Mark is from Firemen's Insurance Company of Baltimore, which was formed in 1825:


The Firemen's Insurance Company of Washington and Georgetown, founded in 1837, issued their fire mark in 1838. (This mark is very similar to that of the Firemen's Insurance Company of Baltimore, Maryland):


Firemen’s of DC is still in business, but the company was bought out by the WR Berkley Companies and is no longer in DC, but instead is now located just outside Richmond, VA.

You may find more info here:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1342316

p.s. These Firemen's Insurance companies are not in any way related to Fireman's Fund Insurance...