Fire Brigade interest. Scratch-built brass Patent model of a...

Estimate

£2,500 - £4,500

Fire Brigade interest. Scratch-built brass Patent model of a mid 19th Century Fire Ladder by Alfred Rigny of New York c1867. A unique and high quality working scale model created by Rigny for his US Patent Office application No.64,569 of May 7th 1867 and lodged with them. Later part of noted large US patent model collection by Mr & Mrs O Rundle Gilbert. This scale model contains a self-locking 4ft high ladder raised and lowered by visible gearing with angle adjustment and locking brake system. Brass model with bone-tipped handles, mounted on a modern oak base. Dimensions including base: W 49cm, D 20cm, H 33cm ladder stowed away, ladder extends nearly 4ft. Alfred Rigny (b. 1840 Besancon, France) moved to the US at 18 months old with his family and subsequently lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY from aged 18 as a Wine and Liqueur wholesaler. Rigny held one other patent for an improved corkscrew. Rigny's inspiration may have been from a famous fire on Elm Street in Manhattan in 1860 which involved fire services unable to reach people trapped on the 4th floor of a tenement block. State law was changed to ensure new buildings had suitable fire escapes, however this did not apply to existing building. Had Rigny's horse drawn design been constructed it would have contained a 50ft high rollable and self locking ladder. The patent was granted but there is no evidence the design was ever put into production.  Prior to 1880 US patent applications required a small model up to approximately 12 inches to accompany the paperwork. Most were very simple suggestive forms, some like this example were extremely detailed.