Below is an excerpt from an article on firefighting apparatus, from 1895.

There is one part I cannot understand.
Could you please help me decipher what the author means by "holding oil covers"..

"Although the protective departments had a forerunner in some of the early fire companies whose members carried canvas bags to be used in saving property, the insurance companies did not introduce their patrols or salvage corps for several years later. Some of the insurance companies of New York in 1839 organized a corps of bagmen, who saved what they could of endangered property. Later a two-wheeled hand wagon, supplied with half a dozen rubber covers, was put in service. Later a permanent station, equipped with a four-wheeled wagon, drawn by horses, was established. Today there are several stations with nine wagons and a Silsby steam fire engine, which latter is used to pump out cellars. In Boston, as early as 1849, the insurance firm of Dobson & Jordan employed some men to carry bags holding oil covers."

 

A common name for water proof clothing during this time was “oil Skins”. I believe oil cover is referring to water proof covering.

 

Thank you!
That explains all. (They were concerned about water damage, then)

 

Yok Problem

 

Googletranslate!

No problem: Bir şey değil
No problem: Rica ederim

Yok problem: not Turkish...

Seriously, that was about an 80 page article. I'll be able to finish it, thanks to you.
(Paid for my progressive port water injection and dual throttle body mods. Yay!)