American insurance company’s fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not suffer greatly if the building was destroyed. Also, it stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company insuring the house would reward handsomely those extinguishing a blaze.

Many of the early volunteer fire companies/fire houses/hose battalions/brigades, and later, the municipal fire departments would issue their own fire plaques/marks. While the most common ones were based on the Maltese Cross Design, several fire companies based their plaques on the designs of fire marks that had been issued by various insurance companies.

The Valiant Hose No. 2 mark has an image on it, based on the Currier and Ives print "Rushing to the Conflict". This mark measures approximately 5.75" X 10.75", is of heavy ( almost 3.0 lbs.) cast iron construction and was cast by John Wright. The mark has a rough surface with some paint loss and a good amount of rust from exposure to the elements. It has a great vintage look and feel.