FIRE MARK: Sun Insurance Company Cast Metal Plaque Number 5154-SIGN/MARKER

Description

SUN FIRE OFFICE
The Sun Fire Office, as it was originally known, was founded in 1710 in Great Britian. Its founder was the eccentric Charles Povey, whose interest in astronomy may have influenced his choice of name.
The period from 1720 to 1790 was one of rapid expansion. By 1786 the Sun had a private
firefighting
force and over 120 agents in the provinces. By 1790 it could claim a dominant position among the nation's insurers. It's gross premium income was much larger than rivals, the Phoenix and Royal Exchange.
The U.S. market was successfully penetrated when the Sun acquired the Watertown Insurance Company of New Jersey in 1882. The Chicago and Boston fires of 1871 and 1872, but more especially the San Francisco disaster of 1906--which cost the Sun £333,000--enabled the Sun to display its solidity and trustworthiness to an admiring American public.
Sun Insurance Office, retained its separate identity for almost 250 years until its 1959 merger with the Alliance Assurance Company, founded in 1824.
In July 1996 the Sun Alliance Group plc and Royal Insurance Holdings plc, a merger that created Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc (RSA). The new group started off as the largest composite insurance company in the
United Kingdom
and
Europe
.
Their original fire mark measured 5.75" X 6.875" and was made of heavy lead construction. This mark is of metal (non ferrous) construction, measures approximately 8.0" X 9.25" and is a John Wright casting. It is black with a red center circle along gold lettering and trim. In the center circle is a gold sun, with the word SUN above and the number 5154 below it. It is in good condition with only minor chips in the paint, which really gives it a great vintage/antique look. This mark is not one that is seen that often for sale.
This would make an excellent addition for any collector of firefighting or insurance memorabilia, an agent/broker, or a company employee/retiree.
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