Early fire engines were called “hand-tub pumpers,” meaning crews collected water by hand and fed it to the engine with buckets. Once the water was supplied, the handles on either side could be pumped up and down, driving the pistons and producing enough pressure to shoot water to astonishing heights. The Phoenix No. 6 could pump water about 100 feet through its 2.5-inch fire hose line. Firefighters supplied water to the Phoenix by bucket or suction hose.

In 1840, a group of private individuals from Brattleboro, Vermont, purchased this pumper. The Phoenix provided fire protection for an independent fire company, later known as the municipal Brattleboro Fire Department. Edwin Putnam, a local machinist and member of the Brattleboro Fire Department, took great pride in the Phoenix and completely rebuilt it in 1876. However, as steam fire engines evolved through the late 1800s, the Phoenix was put into reserve.

After being placed in reserve, the Phoenix was sold to Londonderry, Vermont. From then on, it was stored and owned by several groups and individuals across multiple states, including Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Granite Hand Tub Association and Vincent Jarosz restored the Phoenix to its 1867 rebuild color and condition. The pumper joined the Koorsen Fire Museum collection in 2013.