Wallis & Wallis
Lot 24
Calcutta Fire Brigade: items of uniform etc relating to Robert Clare, Chief Engineer of the Calcutta Fire Brigade, who retired in 1906, comprising a short black coat with scarlet lapels, silver plated flat livery type buttons with crossed axes and beaded borders, whistle and chains attached to Prince of Wales’ feathers badge, and plated shoulder scales; plated brass Fire Chief’s helmet, with universal pattern badge, velvet backed chin scales, and leather lining (small dent to crest, peak slightly kinked, chin scales coming unstitched); peaked forage cap with bullion embroidered badge with crossed silver axes, lace band, bullion peak, and padded silk lining with maker’s name of Merryweather, London (2 small moth holes, some wear to lining); side cap, the bullion embroidered badge of crowned crossed axes and initials “C.F.B.” over a steam fire engine; black Brodrick type cap with red piping and wool embroidered badge similar to the last, and silk tails; red soft woollen hat with pom pom, black band and embroidered “C.F.B.” ( 4 small moth holes); a gold lined black japanned cash tin with key, by James Bros, Wolverhampton, the lid with white metal bands adorned with domed rivet heads, elaborate handle and in gold lettering “Robert Clare, Chief Engineer, Calcutta Fire Brigade”, containing a few small trinkets, a silver sweetheart brooch of the Rifle Brigade, a white metal kukri pendant, and a Calcutta Fire Brigade seal matrix; over 50 white metal and silver plated fire brigade buttons, some of the type on the jacket, some marked Calcutta Fire Brigade”, some with “CFB” in script, and some of universal pattern; and a printed leaflet, being an “Extract from the Calcutta Englishman Newspaper, Monday, April 2nd, 1906”, describing the presentation of a gold watch to Mr. Clare on his retirement as Chief Engineer and giving details of his career as a Merchant Seaman, member of the Hong Kong Police, part of which time was with the Fire Brigade, and his subsequent time with the Calcutta Fire Brigade; the box containing the coat marked in pencil “Grandad Clares Fireman’s Uniform”. The whole in GC, a most interesting and unique lot. Plate £500-600
