Thread: Linen fire hose strops

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Despite saying "Quaker City Rubber Co." this one is not lined with rubber.
Attachment 248198

It may have been 'property of' there?
Perhaps it is impregnated with rubber? I mean it seems to have the brass fitting still attached?
Could the linen be woven tight enough to make an actual hose?
We have much to learn, I suppose!

Lazy!

Got a couple of pieces of the Scottish flax hose from ebay.
Very clean and is definitely my favorite linen.

There is no rubber anywhere. My theory is that the hose gets wet, even drips but the linen swells and keeps almost all of the water inside. Then when the hose gets dragged through some fire or hot coals or whatever is does not burn because it's wet. Sorta like the way you can boil water in a paper cup over a fire and the cup doesn't burn.

That must be it! I mistakenly assumed there must be a lining in there.

Apparently not!

Yeah, but I have seen them with rubber adhered to the inside also. Newer (or less old) ones maybe?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I think the actual fire hose is rubber hose.Tc. The linen is the protective covering over it.
Certainly it is poly or something like that these days? I would think the linen is from days gone by.

Who knows? Ask those firemen of yours.....
Anyhoo, it was cheap enough, I think. Bad thing was, I ordered 3 pieces and I got it all in one long piece.
No combined shipping!

Yup newer firehose is made of synthetics with a solid rubber liner inside. The natural coton/linen jacketed hose is a rare sight on a fire truck these days.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I have about 60ft of vintage linen hose without a rubber liner. It hung in an accordion style rack so it has some creases in it but it's never been used.
If anyone wants some to play with I'm in it about a buck a foot. Just send me a pm if you want a piece or all of it.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I,ll go look at it tomorrow it's down in my shop. I,m sure it's got a rubber inside de piece but the outside is linen. Tc

Years ago, when I was a union ironworker, some of the old school welders used to get firehose and make a pouch for their welding rods. They'd get a length of firehose and cut it to the correct length with a loop for their belt, and cut a hunk of wood in a circle and nail it at the bottom of the hose. Carried their stick welding rod in it. The rubber inside helped keep the rods dry, and the linen was plenty durable. Was better than the commercial leather rod holders, cause it held its shape, and most of all, kept moisture away from the rods.

Wow! That is very clever and a nice way to recycle material.

Where our resident Fireman when we need him hehe. I have seen these things in action at my local fire station during events when the community can bring their kids to check out the cool gear. Of course the had a Fireman demonstrating the shear power of a pump truck and hose set up. Seemed to me that the hose oozed water through out its length as the man was shooting tons of water at a little fire he made. Probably no rubber needed for some of those things.