Tarred leather waist belt, 1 3/4 in. width, approx. 32 in. length including plate, with cast gilt brass interlocking tongue and wreath waist belt plate featuring a patriotic spread winged eagle with star in shield (O'Donnell & Campbell, American Military Belt Plates, Plate 329). Stenciled red and gold capital letters on back of belt, "PROTECTOR. 1."

O'Donnell & Campbell date this pattern plate to ca 1845-1860, noting that it was “worn extensively by independent companies, bands and firemen during the 1840s and 1850s” and was particularly prevalent in Massachusetts and greater New England. “Protector. 1” almost certainly identifies a specific fire company. Multiple nineteenth-century sources identify fire companies with the word "Protector" as a portion of the engine company name, including a Kelloggs & Comstock lithograph titled "Protector Engine No. 2," ca 1848-1849, showing four firefighers on a sidewalk, each wearing a shield with the words "Protector / 2" and showing a hand-pumped fire engine also with the word "Protector" engraved on the tank (Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, Object No. 1957.65.30).

An early and well-preserved example of a firefighter's belt.