This listing is for ANTIQUE brass tags related to the Boston Protective Department, a historical fire salvage corps.
These 3 Boston Protective Department brass tag lists various fire safety systems, including "Section Sprinkler", "Intermediate Sprinkler" and "Drip Sprinkler".
They are attached to their ORIGINAL brass chains. None have been cleaned and both show beautiful patina.
About the Boston Protective Department:
The Boston Protective Department (BPD) was a private salvage corps founded by insurance companies in Boston, Massachusetts, to protect commercial properties and contents from secondary damage caused by fire, smoke, water used in firefighting, and looting. Organized formally on October 1, 1868, with roots tracing back to informal efforts as early as 1849, the BPD operated independently from the municipal Boston Fire Department but collaborated closely with it and the Boston Police Department until its disbandment in 1959.The department's origins stemmed from the growing needs of insurers amid Boston's rapid urbanization and frequent devastating fires, such as the Great Fire of 1872, which highlighted the limitations of fire suppression alone in preventing extensive property losses. Funded entirely by insurance underwriters through annual appropriations, such as $10,000 in early years, with a capital cap of $30,000 by 1874—the BPD was not a city entity and employed its own personnel, many of whom later transitioned to roles in the Boston Fire or Police Departments. In 1874, the Massachusetts Legislature granted it a formal charter, solidifying its structure with a board of directors, bylaws, and corporate status, which enabled expanded operations including the formation of additional companies.At its peak, the BPD maintained three stations—Companies No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3—often housed in repurposed firehouses, and responded to alarms using specialized wagons equipped with oil-cloth covers, tarpaulins, brooms, shovels, and other tools for rapid salvage work. Company No. 1, for instance, was established in 1868 at North Bennet Street with an initial crew of about 10 members under Assistant Engineman W. A. Green, while Company No. 2 followed in 1874; these units covered districts across the city, including annexed areas like Roxbury (1868) and Charlestown (1874). Annual reports from 1878 to 1940 document its activities, such as notable incidents like vehicle accidents in 1923–1924 and leadership transitions, including Samuel Abbott Jr.'s superintendency from 1880 until his retirement in 1920. The BPD's model influenced similar organizations in other major U.S. cities by 1914, reflecting a broader era of privatized fire protection auxiliaries.By the mid-20th century, as municipal fire services professionalized and insurance practices evolved, the need for a separate salvage corps diminished, leading to the BPD's dissolution on December 31, 1959. Its legacy endures in historical records and the contributions of its members to Boston's public safety infrastructure, underscoring the interplay between private enterprise and urban fire response in 19th- and 20th-century America.
I have had these BEAUTIFUL brass tags in my possession for over 40 years and am guessing that they are well over 100 YEARS OLD.This historical item is very collectible and RARE. Perfect for your Fire Protection or Fire Department memorabilia collection.
Thanks for looking!
5..9 and granted a charter by the Massachusetts legislature in 1874. The department disbanded in 1959. Like many salvage corps, the employees w