ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE,1890s Antique Wood Engraving

Historical Collectible Art Print

Until the mid-19th century most fire engines were maneuvered by men, but the introduction of horse-drawn fire engines considerably improved the response time to incidents. The first self-propelled steam engine was built in New York in 1841. It was the target of sabotage by firefighters and its use was discontinued, and motorized fire engines did not become commonplace until the early 20th century. For many years firefighters sat on the sides of the fire engines, or even stood on the rear of the vehicles, exposed to the elements. While this arrangement enhanced response time, it proved to be both uncomfortable and dangerous (some firefighters were thrown to their deaths when their fire engines made sharp turns on the road), and today nearly all fire engines have fully enclosed seatings for their crews.

Approximate Overall Size: 6 X 9 1/2 inches

CONDITION: Book Plate - Excellent Condition. As Scanned. German Text. Beautiful with excellent detail. SINGLE PAGE BACK TO BACK PRINTS