The Fire Appliance Manufacturing Co Catalogues and Brochures, 1880s

A collection of illustrated catalogues and brochures produced by the Fire Appliances Manufacturing Company of 9, Moorfields, London between 1888 and 1893, bound into a single volume.  [xx], [iv], 24, 28, 38, 44pp.  Bound into blue cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on the front.  Grey endpapers.  Tall 4to.  Boards are heavily worn at corners and around spine, backstrip fractured and brittle, some marks and scuffing.  Front hinge almost completely broken.  Text block edges toned with some chipping.  Previous owner's name neatly inked on front free endpaper verso.  Pages a little toned in margins, with occasional marks and annotations.  The collection, bound into a single volume, comprises (1) an illustrated brief brochure advertising, with prices, various fire fighting equiment such as the Tozer Portable Hand Pump, The Improved Corridor Fire Engine, Vulcan Branded Fire Hose, The Denayrouse Respirator (for entering places infected by noxious gases, smoke and foul smells), etc; (2) a four page illustrated essay on the Protection of Mansions; (3) A descriptive, illustration catalogue of Steam Fire Engines and Fire Extinguishing Appliances dating from between 1891 and 1893; (4) a selection of Reprints from Press Reports, Events, &c., on Trials and Tests of the Most Severe and Practical Character, with Vulcan Pattern Steam Fire Engines; (5) an undated illustrated and descriptive Catalogue of the Fire Appliances Manufacturing Co and (6) an illustrated and descriptive Catalogue of the Fire Appliances Manufacturing Co, dated December 1893, featuring for instance Manual Power Fire Engines, Light Fire Fly (horse-drawn), New Patent Light Telescopic Fire Escape, etc.  The Fire Appliances Manufacturing Company was set up in Northampton in1888, a branch of the Sphincter Grip Hose Company. It made high-quality steam fire engines under the "Vulcan" name.  Its fire engines were serious competitors to those of more established firms such as Merryweather & Sons and Shand, Mason & Co., and beat rivals in several steam fire engine contests. The company was dissolved in 1893.