Fire helmet front shield FDNY, Ladder 78/Rescue 5, New Brighten, Staten Island

Description

Pre 1959 frontpiece personally collected when the FDNY switched to inserts. Organized in 1905 as Ladder 103 at 3 Brook St., changed to Ladder 78 in 1913. Moved to 14 Brighten Ave. with Engine 155 in 1931 where it still is. Richmond (Staten Island) did not have a rescue co. until 1948 when Rescue 5 was organized, but as a dual unit. It was given a 1941 Ward LaFrance hose wagon and it was manned by the men of Ladder 78. When a rescue call or a 2nd alarm was transmitted, Ladder 78 went out of service and Rescue 5 rolled. The members of 78 converted the hose wagon into a full rescue rear. The men of 78 wore these front pieces both as Ladder 78 and Rescue 5. Some Rescue 5 front pieces are known to exist but they were individually bought by the men. Instead they eventually made metal slipover ones painted blue with a 5 on them and kept a supply in the Rescue rig. This front piece was worn by a 78/5 member. Rescue 5 was disbanded in 1962 and reorganized at Engine 160 in 1984, where it still is.