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Link extinguishers
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Link extinguishers
In Victorian times well-to-do householders would hire a link boy - a boy or young man who carried a flaming torch called a link to light the way for the traveller. Link extinguishers (as shown) were installed outside their front doors for their servants to snoff out their torches once they had reached home. Date: 1875
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Media ID 23393890
© Mary Evans/Peter & Dawn Cope Collection Mary Evans/Peter & Dawn Cope Collection
1875 Called Carried Doors Extinguishers Flaming Hire Householders Installed Link Reached Servants Shown Times Torch Torches Traveller Well To Do
EDITORS COMMENTS
A Victorian Era Innovation: Link Extinguishers for the Well-to-Do Home This photograph, taken in 1875, showcases a pair of link extinguishers installed outside the front door of a well-to-do Victorian household. In the times before electric street lighting, travellers relied on the assistance of link boys to light their way through the darkened streets. These boys, often young and sometimes as young as six years old, carried flaming torches, or 'links,' to guide travellers home. Upon reaching their destination, the servant would be expected to extinguish the torch to prevent any potential fires. Link extinguishers, as seen in this image, were a common safety feature outside the homes of the affluent, providing a convenient and effective means for their servants to extinguish the torches. The extinguishers were typically made of brass, with a long, curved nozzle designed to smother the flame. The Victorian era was a time of innovation and progress, and the installation of link extinguishers outside the homes of the well-to-do was a testament to their commitment to safety and the welfare of their servants. This photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the daily life and practices of the Victorian era, providing a unique perspective on the role of servants and their duties within the household.
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