Fireman's Smoke Protectors

Fireman's Smoke Protectors Advertising Button Museum
Category
Advertising
Additional Images
Fireman's Smoke Protectors button back Advertising Button Museum
Sub Categories
Illustrations
Text on Button The Vajen-Bader Patent; Fireman’s Smoke Protector
Image Description

Black text on a white background with an image of a person wearing blue wearing a yellow mask.
Back Paper / Back Info

THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. 
NEWARK N.J.
union label
PATENTED
JULY 17 1894
APRIL 14, 1896, JAN 21, 1896
Curl Text PAT. JULY 21, 1896
Back Style
Unlocking pin
The Shape
Circle
The Size
7/8 inch
The Manufacturer
Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Additional Information

In the 1890s, Willis C. Vajen of Indianapolis Industries invented the Vajen-Bader smoke helmet, designed to protect firefighters from inhaling smoke when they entered a burning building. The helmet was made of a chamois leather that was specially treated to be fire and water proof. The helmet was attached to a compression tank to aid in respiration and to keep the internal temperature of the helmet cool. Both the eye and ear pieces (diaphragms) were made from mica, enabling clear sight and sound for the firefighter. By 1897, the helmet was in use all over the world.
Catalog ID AD0352