Fire Hydrant Patent Print
The steadfast sentinel standing guard on every street.
Behold the original patent drawing for the fire hydrant, granted on 21 July 1903 as US 734,251 to Arthur O. Babendreier. The sheet reveals what lies beneath that familiar kerbside shape — the valves, the outlets and the internal waterways — cut away and annotated so every channel and connection can be traced in fine early-century detail.
There is a curious charm in seeing so overlooked a fixture, one we pass a hundred times without a glance, honoured as a serious piece of engineering. It is a small tribute to the hidden systems that keep our towns safe.
A great gift for the firefighter, the plumber or the lover of civic curiosities. Choose from six finishes — vintage Old Paper, architect's Blueprint, chalky Blackboard, crisp White, deep Navy or rich Burgundy — to suit any station, workshop or downstairs loo.
Order today and you can expect delivery 25th September - 1st October.
Printed in the USANo customs or import feesOrder today and you can expect delivery 28th September - 2nd October.
Printed in GermanyNo customs or import feesOrder today and you can expect delivery 25th - 30th September.
Printed in CanadaNo customs or import feesOrder today and you can expect delivery 28th September - 5th October.
Printed in AustraliaNo customs or import feesOrder today and you can expect delivery 28th September - 1st October.
Printed in IrelandNo customs or import feesOrder today and you can expect delivery 25th September - 2nd October.
Print size & quality
Every piece is printed on thick, 175gsm fine-art matte paper with archival inks — so the colours stay rich, deep and true for years, with no fading and no fuss. Before it heads your way, it's wrapped in soft tissue to keep it scratch-free and sent out in a sturdy kraft tube or a robust triangular kraft box (never plastic).
Available sizes
Framing options
Fancy it ready to hang? Add a solid pine frame — sturdy, handsome and built to last. Take your pick from black, natural wood, or white. Each one is 20–25mm deep and 10–14mm wide: the sweet spot between strength and understated good looks.
We finish every frame with shatterproof, crystal-clear plexiglass to keep your print pristine — and it arrives already framed, so it goes straight from the box to your wall with no faff.
Framing is available for these sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, 8x10, 11x14, 12x16, 12x18, 16x20, 18x24, 20x28, 24x32, 24x36 and 28x40.
Shipping & returns
Designed in Edinburgh, printed close to you. We've teamed up with trusted print partners across the globe, so your order is made and posted from wherever's nearest — order from the US, for instance, and it's printed and shipped by our US partner. That means it reaches you sooner, and travels a lot less to get there.
Changed your mind? Not a problem. Every order is covered by our 30-day, no-quibbles money-back guarantee — if it's not quite right, send it back within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked.
