Stirrup hand pumps were early fire extinguishers. They were introduced during World War II, and used to put out small fires caused by incendiary bombs. Householders were encouraged to buy the pumps as they were easy to use and could deal with a fire in its early stages. The pumps had a short length of hose that, when filled with water from a bucket or bath, could be directed straight at the source of a small fire. After the war many people continued to use the pumps for general household chores such as washing the car, cleaning windows or watering the garden.
