Circa 1855 Hand Engine, a double deck Philadelphia style hand engine, hand pulled and hand pumped.

Builder: John Rogers, Baltimore (not confirmed)

Location: Museum

Pumping Crew: 50 to 60

Condition: Fair, preserved

This engine, or “mashen” as they were called, is a fine example of the improvements made to American fire engines in the mid 1800’s. At the scene of a fire the pumping bars unfolded and were locked into place. Also, a standing platform on top of the wash box unfolded for additional placement of the crew. Now firemen could stand and pump on the engine as well as on the ground. This doubled the crew size.

In addition, the amount of water into and out of the engine improved greatly. There are two inlets and four outlets on this engine.  The cylinder diameter of these engines usually ranged from ten to twelve inches, and with one hose lead working the crew could throw a stream of water 250 to 300 feet.

The apparatus records in the volunteer era of the department are incomplete.  Most of these records were lost in the 1906 Fire.  There was a double deck engine in the Volunteer Company, and there are enough markings and drawings to believe that this is that same engine.  There are several photographs showing this engine being paraded throughout the county by the Veteran Fireman’s Association.  It is believed that the Veteran Fireman’s Association added the Veteran brass name plates to the front and rear of the wash box after the volunteer companies were disbanded in 1866.

This engine does not have a pump.  It is believed that the brass pump was donated to the country’s World War II brass drive effort.

The last appearance of the Volunteer engine outside the Museum was at the 1982 Benicia Firemen’s Muster when the unit was paraded up Main Street by San Francisco’s City Guides. The City Guides are the docents for the San Francisco Fire Department Museum.

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