Great, Named Ca. 1900 Coin Silver Suspension Badge for the Rainbow Fire Company of Reading, PA

Great, circa 1900 coin silver suspension badge for the Rainbow Fire Company of Reading, Pennsylvania. The badge portrays a fireman's helmet and scrolling hose and is named to "Chas. S. Bernhardt", suspended below are beautifully engraved and carved, entwined letters "R", "F", "C", and "O". An article in the Reading Eagle, dated February 6th, 1917 (link below) informs of driver raises, new appointments, and members of the company, in addition to plans for an anniversary celebration, the article also declares Charles Bernhardt as a chemical engineer for the company which by that time had grown into a department with fourteen volunteer companies.

(http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19170206&id=EZktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wp0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3970,709208)

According to lore, the Rainbow Co. is named such because during a dispute over the new name during a meeting being held in a tavern, a rainbow was spotted after an afternoon thunderstorm. The Rainbow Fire Co. was a bucket brigade from its organization on St. Patrick's Day, 1773 until the first hand-drawn/ hand-pumped fire engine arrived for the company in 1820, by 1860 the engines were steam powered, and the company was fully motorized in 192I believe this badge may have belonged to the oldest fire company in the country!

(http://www.readingpa.gov/content/reading-fire-department-history)

Circa 1900

1-1/2" wide by 2-1/2" high.

Coin silver.

Horizontal pin with "C" catch.

None.

This is from a large collection, which we will be listing more of over the next few months.  MEJX07 LDGEX2/15

8- (Excellent - Very fine): Minor wear; slight tarnishing.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.