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Built by the Rumsey Pump & Fire Engine Company of Seneca Falls, New York, this hand-tub pumper was presumably used by a relatively small village with very little fire activity. Hand-tub pumpers, as suggested by the name, were manual fire engines operated by a team of 10-20 men at a time. The pumper was typically fed with water by a line of buckets, known as a bucket brigade, or by a suction hose placed in a cistern of water. Cross handles were thrusted up and down, driving the pistons and producing enough pressure to shoot water up to 140 feet, in this pumper’s case.
This particular pumper is a Rumsey No. 1 Piano Style, constructed specifically for village use. “Piano Style” refers to the shape of the water tank and pump housing, which resembles a piano when flipped upside down. The pumper was constructed with brass cylinder handles, wrought iron folding brakes, a rope reel, 12 feet of suction hose, a brass strainer, a brass discharge pipe, and 2 nozzles.
Engines such as this were popular in smaller villages due to their size and price point. This engine would have cost around $650.00 in 1878, which was much cheaper compared to their steam fire engine counterparts.
