than we might expect today.
Manufacturers understood that useful objects didn’t necessarily have to look industrial.
A practical item could also have decorative details, attractive materials, or a shape that allowed it to blend naturally into its surroundings.
That philosophy makes antique safety equipment especially interesting to collectors.
Something that looks ornamental may actually have had a very serious job.
Designed for Another Era
Cars, homes, materials, and safety standards have all changed dramatically over time.
The emergency equipment available to earlier generations reflected the technology and expectations of that
