Siebe Gorman foot pump (Bellows foot air pump)

The term ‘’Bellows” is used by extension for a flexible bag whose volume can be changed by compression or expansion. ‘ ‘Bellows” is only used in plural and the old English word was “blowing-bag” and the derivation is not certain.

This air pump was used to pump fresh air into the safety helmet using the double blow system operation.  Based on positive displacement principle, expanding and contracting cavities move the air. To operate the bellows, the metal foot pedal was pressed down and using the tension of the spring, air was sent to the helmet.  It was used to enter rooms filled with toxic gasses, smoke and etcetera.