002.361.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija

510:IDR;RZ-751

Daily life

A mobile double-cylinder manually drawn fire pump (factory number 103116) consists of a housing, which is mounted on the two axes or four wheels. The suspension is made of leaf springs. There are two yokes for a horse harness at the front. The front part of the fire pump can be turned in different directions. The housing has seats for transporting the firefighters and a handbrake. The water tank has a connector on one side, which is used for connecting the fire hose with the suction tank. The other side has connectors for two hoses (double attack). At the end of the manual piston pump lever a wooden stick is manually inserted. The back side of the pump has the inscription “PGD IDRIJA”.

/

Steel, wood.

1872

Knausst Wien.

The beginnings of firefighting date back into 1779. The Mine took care of the organisation and equipment of firefighters, fire safety and fire extinguishing in the pit and other facilities. At that time, the Mine already possessed the all fire tools, which are kept at the mining castle, in shafts and other facilities. The firefighters used to drive the fire pump or extinguish fires with other power sources. First they had to pump the water from the water source into the water tank manually, using the hose with the suction tank. The fire extinguishing was carried out by using two hoses (double attack) and a wooden stick inserted at the end of the piston pump lever, which was used by firefighters for pumping the water. In 1961, the Mine handed the pump over to the Idrija Municipal Museum.

The described object is being preserved, secured and presented as an important monument of Idrija technical mining heritage with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. In Europe and around the world a few similar pumps are preserved in museums. The described fire pump is particularly important because of its local importance and historical connection to the beginnings of firefighting in Idrija. It is a proof of how important the development of the Mercury Mine Idrija was in all the area of its operation. The fire pump is currently kept in the museum depot. It can be used for temporary museum exhibitions or for other types of mercury heritage promotions.

Fire department of Idrija Mercury Mine.

Idrija Municipal Museum, depot in St Barbara Street.

In 2000, on its 110th anniversary, the Idrija Fire Department performed a restoration-conservation procedure on the pump. All main components of the pump were cleaned from corrosion and protected with foundation and top paint. Security of the premises is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

15. 3. 2018

Never