Vintage Canvas Fire Catch Tarp Called The Atlas Life Saving Machine: 9-ft diameter

A rare and extraordinary firefighter's tool, circa 1940s, this heavy-duty lifesaving canvas catch tarp was used to save those trapped inside a burning building and forced to leap for their lives. The heavy-duty canvas is leather strapped to a steel hoop housed in a thick plastic liner grooved for optimal hand gripping. The canvas is backed by 15-inch long spring-encased metal bars attached to the outer rim and spaced every ten inches for absorption/spring upon landing. The front of the canvas is covered in a padded, quilted cotton top with a fire-engine red bull's-eye in the center and red trim around the edges. Canvas and cotton quilt have been cleaned and display faint discoloration in places from a lifetime of field wear in the critical business of saving lives. A masterful work of functional sculptural art for a wall in loft, restaurant or hotel lobby. Hung horizontally from the ceiling, this catch tarp would provide sound absorption in a restaurant or nightclub as well as compelling conversation piece.  Tag notes: manufactured by Atlas Safety Equipment Co. in New York, NY.