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I acquired this Davy Fire Escape from Timothy Greenway in 2023.
My Davy Fire Escape is 182 mm. tall, 159 mm. wide, 60 mm. thick, and weighs 1730 g.
The Davy Fire Escape is a wall-mounted lowering device designed to allow individuals to exit the window of a burning building. The internal mechanism is not visible. Two ropes leave the bottom of the descender, each with an attached chest strap.
The front has the following printed information:
PATENTED
[missing] 1906, JULY 31, 1906
[missing]914, APRIL 17, 1923
[missing] AND FOREIGN COUNTRIESDAVY
AUTOMATIC SAFETYOpen window, throw out reeled cable, place life
belt at the window, around your body, under
your shoulders and get out of window. Keep hands
off cable. You will be automatically lowered to
ground, the other belt [will] be at window ready for
another person, until all are out. Always keep
the cable would on reel to use.
Will securely lower small child, heavy adult, invalid
or unconscious person if life belt is placed around
them and out out of window.FIRE ESCAPE
C.F.DAVY
SOLE MANUFACTURER
SYRACUSE
N.Y. U.S.A.
Although the mechanism is hidden, the patents show that it uses internal gearing to control the descent. The front face lists four patents. The month and day for the first are scratched off. I believe that these are either U. S. Patent #818,526 (issued April 24, 1906) or U. S. Patent #827,510 (issued July 31, 1906). The second is U. S. Patent #1,066,716. The month and day for the third (from 1914) is also scratched off, but I believe that this is U. S. Patent #1,116,680 (issued November 10, 1914). The final one is U. S. Patent #1,452,070.I believe that the scratched-off text includes a reference to U. S. Patent #1,452,070, since the drawings in that patent more closely match my device than the earlier drawings do. If so, then this device may date from the early 1930s.
I lack the requisite stupidity needed to test such a valuable and deteriorating antique with its rusted attachment points and its deteriorated rope and "life belt.".
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