Fire mark: De Soto Rural Fire Protection Service, Missouri

Description

This is part of over 100 firemarks that I obtained from the estate of an old friend. He collected firemarks for going back to the 1950s. For the next couple of weeks I will be listing his copper, zinc and tin English firemarks and some English lead firemarks and a few American firemarks. All are original and some are in the finest condition of known marks. The mark pictured is not listed in Bulau. Bulau wrote the definitive book on firemarks and each one is listed with a company name, approximate date of use for each fire mark and dimensions. Reproduction firemarks do not match the size of the originals. Fire mark.
For a while, a number of rural fire departments sold subscriptions for their services. They often would not respond to emergencies for property owners who did not subscribe. This is much like the fire companies of the early 19th century that were hired by insurance companies.
Fortunately, the bad press that goes with not putting out a fire in somebody's house persuaded many of these fire departments to use a different method of fundraising.