Civil War Period Vulcanized Rubber Covered Canvas Fire Bucket from Canfield, Ohio Hook & Ladder No. 1

Civil War Period Vulcanized Rubber Covered Canvas Fire Bucket from Canfield, Ohio Hook & Ladder No. 1 – While leather buckets were generally quite durable, they were still susceptible to rot. After Charles Goodyear discovered the rubber vulcanizing process in 1839, many firefighting companies switched from leather to rubber buckets. While natural rubber deforms when warm and turns brittle when cold, vulcanized rubber (which has been cured using high heat and the addition of sulfur) is durable, smooth, and resistant to chemical attack. Vulcanization technology made rubber a practical and widely usable material. This bucket, made of rubberized canvas, remains in overall excellent condition; it retains its original handle, firmly affixed to the brackets attached to the body of the bucket. Stenciled on the front exterior of the bucket is the following:

“C. H. & L.

NO. 1.”

As affirmed by an old tag still attached to the bucket, this is the abbreviation for – “Canfield Hook & Ladder  No. 1”. The township of Canfield, Ohio was established in 1798 and named for Judson Canfield in 1800. The history of the Canfield, Ohio fire department began with a volunteer company, likely named Eagle No. 1, in 1834, with a broader network of four volunteer companies, including engine, hook-and-ladder, and hose companies, established by 1835. The first chief of this volunteer department was Samuel Cook.

• Dominance of Leather: For centuries, leather buckets were the primary tools used in firefighting bucket brigades, both in Europe and early America. These were often crafted by leather artisans like cobblers or saddlemakers.
• Vulcanization: While Charles Goodyear discovered the rubber vulcanizing process in 1839, according to the National Museum of American History and the American Chemical Society, making rubber more durable and practical, widespread adoption of rubber products, including fire buckets, came later.