Original Items: Only One Lot Available. This is a fantastic early firefighter’s protective helmet for Hoseman John Peterson of Engine COmpany 11 with the Camden Fire Department in Camden, New Jersey. The lot also includes various items that would have been proper for Peterson to own/wear and also has a pair of lovely photos (copies) and a newspaper article (copy). This is a fantastic grouping perfect for the veteran firefighter!
JOHN MARTIN PETERSON was born in Camden, New Jersey on April 15, 1892 to John and Maggie Peterson. By 1896 his family had moved to 1042 Dayton Avenue in the town of Stockton, which after uniting with Camden in 1899, was renamed North 18th Street. The Peterson remained at this address into the 1920s. The family next door for a number of years were the Behrends, their son Charles Behrend, was killed in action while serving with the United States Army during World War I.
When John M. Peterson registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 he was living with his mother at 1042 North 18th Street in Camden's Cramer Hill section. John M. Peterson was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 16, 1919. He reported for duty at Engine Company 11 on January 1, 1920. Fire Department records from 1931 show John M. Peterson residing at 1049 North 34th Street.
Having reached the mandatory retirement age and having completed 36 years of distinguished service with Engine Company 11 of the Camden Fire Department, John M. Peterson retired on pension January 1, 1956. He moved out of Camden shortly afterwards.
John Martin Peterson's last days were spent in the area served by the Merchantville, New Jersey post office, i.e., in Merchantville or Pennsauken. He passed away in March of 1971.
Engine Company 11 was originally organized as Hose and Chemical Company 1 on March 1, 1900, and entered service on that date in the East Camden firehouse at North 27th and Federal Streets. The unit was later relocated to a new headquarters at 901 North 27th Street in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. On January 1, 1924 the unit was reorganized as Engine Company 11, utilizing the same building at 901 North 27th Street. Engine Company continues to protect Camden from the Cramer Hill firehouse.
The helmet which is attributed to Peterson is known as the registered name of “The Hard Boiled Hat” and is believed to be by the famed E.D. Bullard Company. There is no label present however the top interior shows evidence of a paper label very similar to known Bullard examples. Edward W. Bullard was born in 1893 in Las Vegas, New Mexico. A graduate of Lowell High School in San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley, he served in the cavalry of the U.S. Army and was stationed in France during World War I. Bullard served for nine months and achieved the rank of lieutenant.
When he returned home, he joined E.D. Bullard Co. in San Francisco, which had been founded in 1898 by his father, Edward Dickinson Bullard, to sell carbide lamps and mining equipment.
Bullard soon noticed a common hardship for miners: they had no head protection from life-threatening falling debris. Thinking back to the “doughboy” helmets he and fellow soldiers had worn in France, he was inspired to develop a safety helmet for miners and others engaged in dangerous work.
In 1918, Bullard began turning his idea into a reality.
To create this new helmet, Bullard used overlapping layers of sturdy canvas, which were steamed for temporary pliability before being secured together with glue. He then covered the inside and outside shell with water-resistant shellac for added strength and durability which is retained nicely but is not without loss or damage. Finally, he added leather to the front and rear brims which are still firmly attached to the “bowl”.
Bullard had created the world’s first commercially available industrial protective head gear. He called it the Hard Boiled Hat®, referring to the steam used in its manufacturing process. It was patented and entered production in 1919.
The condition of the helmet is that of one that saw many years of faithful service. The leather brims are deformed with the strips of reinforcement leather almost completely gone or detached. There is a wonderful, very worn suspension liner very similar to the M1917A1 Kelly Helmet but with 4 separate “fingers” made of strong woven cotton. Unfortunately one of the fingers is torn through where the top size adjustment string runs through.
The other included items may not have belonged to Peterson but they are still period and appropriate for this era helmet. The photos that are present are of Peterson in both his “Doughboy” Uniform and Fire Department Dress uniform.
This is a wonderful grouping, perfect for further research and display.
