1870 Hunneman Hand Pumper

Anyone who has read a history book is familiar with the names of Washington, Jefferson and Franklin. Their place in history is well documented. However, there were others doing great deeds of the time who were not so well known. One of these individuals was William C. Hunneman. William lived in Boston Massachusetts form 1769 to 1856. Mr. Hunneman learned to be a blacksmith from another notable person of the time, Paul Revere. Soon after learning his craft, William opened a blacksmith shop at 20 Union Street, Boston to manufacture brass hardware for, the leading industry of the time, ship building.

At that period of time, fires were destroying entire villages. The most common method of fire protection in available was the use of leather buckets. A major contribution toward fire protection was achieved when the technology of the day replaced the fire buckets with, “Fire Masheens”. It was the development of these inventive ideas, coupled with the political and military deeds of America’s early heroes that gave promise to the rise of a great nation. The fire service was a high social priority in the life of any community.

In 1792, Mr. Hunneman decided to make his contribution toward solving the fire problem by manufacturing fire engines. He purchased a patent for a hand-pumped fire engine from Jacob Perkins of Boston. Mr. Hunneman was not the first, nor the only, builder of fire engines in New York. James Smith was the leading manufacturer of these engines. All the engines were similar in design. The only difference was the angle upon which the pistons operated. Many of the builders of the engines purchased the pump and accessories from the Hunneman Company. Then a local cabinet maker was engaged to build the “tub”. The name “Hand Tub” or “Engine” derives it origin from the fact that the body is actually a tub, formed from sheets of copper, designed to hold water.

The pump was installed within the tub to force the water out. From 1792 to 1883, through three generations of Hunnemans, 750 fire engines were made and shipped to all parts of the world.

Edward R. Tufts, a fire engine buff, has written a book entitled, “Hundreds of Hunnemans”. His interest in Hunneman engines has prompted him to trace their existence over 32 years. He located many of these pumpers then photographed and documented their existence. Files were obtained showing the name, serial number and where they shipped from the factory. A great number have been destroyed. On page 74 of Mr. Tufts’ book, is a picture of a pumper, the “New Richmond”, Serial Number 708. This pumper was sent to Richmond, Indiana April 21, 1870. The engine eventually came to be kept at the New England Fire and History Museum in Brewster, Massachusetts…

However, this fine hand-pumper was purchased and restored due to the gifts of multiple donors, and it is now on display at the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.