FIRE MARK TREE: Authentic Mutual Assurance (Insurance) Oak Shield- MARKER SIGN

Description

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TREE FIRE
MARK
Benjamin Franklin, who founded the Philadelphia Contributionship, strongly believed that trees next to a house would attract lightning and thereby increase the risk of fire. Mutual Assurance of Philadelphia was founded in 1784 by 40 members of the Contributionship who didn't believe it was a problem to insure buildings surrounded by trees. Their mark bears a tree on it to reflect the willingness to cover these buildings. The
tree was made out of lead and was mounted on a wood shield measuring approximately "12.125" X 15.625".
This is an authentic Mutual Assurance fire mark which is listed in "An American Fire Mark Primer" addendum to "Footprint of Assurance" (the Authoritative Source for Fire Marks). In the early 1900's Mutual decided "that the continuance of the ancient custom of placing badges or fire marks on buildings insured in this company be encouraged". This mid 1900's mark has a metal tree mounted on a varnished oak wooden shield and measures approximately 11.75" X 14.75”.
Great vintage fire mark in New Old Stock (NOS) condition and has never been mounted for display.
This would make an excellent addition for any collector of firefighting or insurance company memorabilia, an agent/broker, or a company employee or retiree.
American insurance company's fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not greatly suffer if the building were destroyed. Additionally, the mark stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a blaze on the premises.
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