AMERICAN FIRE MARKS are badges or plaques that were issued by the early Fire insurance companies to be affixed to an insured building. They carried the insignia of the insurer.

These FIRE MARKS were made of cast iron, sheet brass lead, copper, tin and zinc. They identified an insured building for the fire brigade or volunteer fire company who were usually rewarded by the insuring company. They came in various sizes and shapes and were sometimes attached to a wooden plaque. They were removed promptly if the policy was cancelled or non-renewed.

In many cases, the presence of a FIRE MARK would deter arson so prevalent in Revolutionary times. Some of the more famous American FIRE MARKS include:

• The "HAND-IN-HAND" shield of the Philadelphia Contributorship for the Insurance of
  Houses from Loss by Fire (1752).
• The "Green Tree" of the Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses From Loss
  by Fire (1784).
• The "Eagle" of the Insurance Company of North America (1792).
• The "Clasped Hands" of the Baltimore Equitable Society (1794).
• The rectangular and/or oval FIRE MARKS of the Hartford Fire (1810), Aetna (1819),
  Continental (1853), and Home (1853), Ohio Farmers (1848).
• The "FA-Hydrant & Hose" of the Fire Association (1817).
• The odd-shaped, scroll bordered "Six Firemen Rowing" of the City Ins. Co.

The last half of the 19th century brought about paid Fire Departments for larger cities. No longer was there a need for FIRE MARKS, so the companies discontinued their use. Some companies still use FIRE MARKS for advertising purposes and reproductions may be purchased for decorative purposes.

The Fire Mark Circle of the Americas was organized in 1972 by a group of firemark collectors in the United States. These collectors knew of numerous other collectors throoughout the country who were interested in sharing information and exchanging firemarks and fire artifacts ... but had no practical way of communicating with each other. The initial meeting of the Fire Mark Circle of the Americas (FMCA) was at the Museum of the Home Insurance Company in New York. The Fire Mark Circle of the Americas is the first authorized branch of the Fire Mark Circle of England which was organized in 1934. This was the logical place for the first meeting because the Home Insurance Company had sponsored and published the "bible" of firemark collectors. "Footprints of Assurance" by Alwin Bulau. Thirty-five members participated in this meeting.

The founding members of FMCA were Max Klein, Morton Werner, Eugene Morris, Albert Wills, William Hedges, Thomas J. Tye, Home Ins. Co., and INA.

FMCA has members from all walks of life. In addition to many insurance brokers and company personnel, members include firemen, attorneys, teachers and museum curators. Newsletters and Journals are issued on a periodic basis and members are kept informed about matters of mutual interest.

FMCA continues to grow in size as the organization becomes known to more persons who share an interest in our common objectives. Participation varies with each member; some are interested in receiving information and exchanging items by mail; others share these same interests in addition to taking part in the annual conventions. Annual dues, including membership in the Fire Mark Circle of England, are $30 a year.

The Circle is an organization of persons interested in fire marks and other reminders of the early days of fire insurance. The objective of the Circle is to bring together persons interested in theorigin and history of the fire insurance companies, their firemarks, fire brigades and fire fighting equipment, firemen's badges, medals and tokens, old insurance company signs and all that pertain to the past of fire insurance ... for the purpose of exchanging, recording information, and for the preservation of relics of the early days of fire insurance.

The Fire Mark Circle of the Americas (FMCA) was the first and only authorized branch of the Fire Mark Circle of England which was organized in 1934. In 1975 FMCA became an independent organization, but, because of our mutual interests, we are still strongly affiliated with the Fire Mark Circle of England. Members of the Fire Mark Circle of the Americas are automatically dues paying members of the Fire Mark Circle of England and will receive copies of all bulletins and Journals published by the latter group.