Leather Hose

The first hose with practical application for firefighting was made of leather and

introduced by the Philadelphia Hose Company in 1808. It was made by taking strips

of leather and binding the seams with brass or copperrivets. It's use became widely

accepted in the 1830's and revolutionized firefighting in that for the first time firemen

could enter a burning building and applying water. The first hose had an inside

diameter of about 2 1/2 inches and came in 35 foot lengths. It was extremely heavy

and required a great deal of maintenance including oiling once a month.

Due to the small amount left in existence, leather hose is very hard to find.