London Fire Brigade

Here we see a member of the London Fire Brigade in 1908, wearing one of the earliest forms of breathing apparatus — a combination of wool hood, rubber hose, metal valves and tightly sealed goggles. It may look intimidating today, but back then it was cutting-edge life-saving gear, designed to brave smoke-filled buildings before modern oxygen tanks and safety regulations came into play.

This powerful image reminds us of the courage and innovation of Edwardian-era firefighters, risking their lives with minimal protection to save others.

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