Why conical fire buckets: an unexpected answer with a look into history

On any fire shield in the country you can see the standard set of a firefighter: an axe, a hook, a shovel and a strange conical-shaped bucket. This is exactly what we want to talk about today. Are the buckets actually made in such an awkward shape to prevent them from being stolen, or is there another reason?

The first conical buckets appeared in the sailing fleet many centuries ago. True, they were not made of metal, but of canvas, which was folded in several rows for maximum waterproofness and sewn together in the form of a cap and tarred to give them rigidity.

Navy buckets needed taper for two important reasons. Firstly, such buckets were very convenient for scooping up water - they were simply thrown overboard on long ropes. Thanks to their shape, the buckets did not have to be heated and they filled quickly. Secondly, the sharp end of such a bucket, even though it was made of canvas, could break through not too thick ice in the cold season.

It is no coincidence that cone buckets ended up in fire brigades. Among the first firefighters in England there were many retired sailors - to fight the fire they needed dexterous and desperate people, of whom there were few on the shore. The navy adopted the most effective naval equipment - boarding ladders with hooks, water pumps, hooks and, of course, conical buckets.

Such buckets were ideal for firefighting - they filled up instantly, and most importantly, they helped carry water to its destination. The shape of the bucket helped prevent water from spilling even when moving - the cone turned out to be an ideal shape for reducing vibrations of the liquid. In addition, it was easier to throw water accurately and far by holding the bucket by the handle and the lower sharp end.

The advantages of cone-shaped buckets can be listed for a very long time. They are much easier to collect sand, which is also used when extinguishing fires, they are stronger and easier to repair, since they have only one seam, unlike cylindrical buckets. Making a conical bucket is cheaper for the same reason.

Those who were sure that fire buckets have a strange shape to protect against theft can rest easy - they are also right. In the household, such a bucket is of little use, since placing it without additional tricks will turn out to be neither full nor empty. If you don't believe me, try it yourself.

In Russia, the first cone-shaped buckets appeared in the fire brigade at the Admiralty in St. Petersburg in 1722. They were introduced into use by decree of the reformer Tsar Peter I, who spied an innovation from the Europeans.