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Gooseneck Pumper

Gooseneck Pumper

c. 1815

New York

 

The term “gooseneck” resulted from the curved shape of the water pipe that leads from the top of the wooden housing of the air chamber. This type of water pipe allowed the firefighter to easily maneuver the water stream without moving the entire apparatus.

 

This hand pump engine was probably one of the first hand pumpers built by James Smith of New York City. Between 1810 and the 1860s, Smith manufactured close to 500 hand pumpers. The Powers and Weightman Company of Philadelphia used this particular pumper.

 

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Uploaded on May 30, 2011
Taken on May 28, 2011