Guys and Gals,
I entered my speedster in a car show Saturday and had a retired firefighter stop and take a look at my car. He told me there was one thing my car needed to finish it off (heck, I thought way more than that!) - a brass pump-up carbon tet fire extinguisher.
It would be for show and not go so I'd move the modern dry chemical one to some convenient but more out of sight than on the floor in front of the bucket seats.
The firefighter has some of these things and told me to call him if I was interested. In BLING? Heck yes I'm interested, especially since I really don't have enough brass to polish!
Any idea what one of these things might be worth before I call him?
Thanks in advance and have a great week!
Seth
Seth,
I saw one in a "junque" store for $15 just a few weeks ago. I almost bought it, but I've got so much stuff laying around already, I decided not to. I wish I had, and for the same purpose you have in mind. This one did not have a mounting bracket, though. One with a mounting bracket might bring more.
Thanks Hal! $15 sounds like a deal for one even without a bracket. I think I'd gladly pay $50 for one with a mounting bracket. I'm not too hot at metal fabrication and Ken Kopsky is a bit too far away.
Fifty bucks plus a little polishing for some ready to go bling sounds like a winner. Thanks again!
Seth (with the Gray Ghost speedster/pickup)
Seth,
My Aunt used to have one attached to a kitchen cabinet, the house was built in the'20s & it probably came with it.
If you find one with Carbon Tet still in it, wear a good mask & dump it down a sewer, read toilet (that way it will be treated) it causes liver cancer & can be detected on your breath a year after it's been inhaled. If you want one that will work I'd just take it to a extinguiser company & have them rebuild it.
I'm a scrounger & often see them, without the bracket, in thrift stores. The bracket is simple & could easily be fabricated from sheet brass.
Alex
Seth, you may only have to polish it once, if you clear coat it after polishing it.
Alex,
Don't worry, I'm scared to death of carbon tet and I'd rather preserve my liver so that it can work on ethanol every now and then!
Ken,
I'll probably polish it until I'm sick of polishing, then I'll clearcoat it like I did my lower radiator/inlet pipe. I have very little brass to polish now - not enough. Gone to see Paul Vitko lately?
Seth
Take your time and find one with a mounting bracket. If you are really lucky, you'll find one with Ford script!
Very nice d, thanks for the pic. I think I can hold out since I didn't know I "needed" one until two days ago. Your pic convinces me that I DO need one - that looks just grand!
This retired firefighter apparently collects and sells them, so I just might be in luck finding one with a bracket.
Thanks to all of you, only my impulse to buy would allow me to get taken!
Seth
They are on e-bay all the time, $20-$80 depending upon the size, style and condition.
Hi All,
I picked one up at the local Trash and Treasure markets here in Oz for $40 on the weekend have buffed it up what do I clear coat it with to seal it?
Thanks
Mark
Mark,
You can use clear lacquer (typically used for sealing wood) or you can use Rust-Oleum's Crystal Clear enamel, if you can get that in Oz. I'm sure there are other alternatives.
Seth
Seth,
Thanks for that will go to Bunnings on the weekend and get some. It took me about two hours to clean it up so don't want to be doing that all the time. Then I will mount it on the back next to the modern extinguisher that should get some comments fronm the courious observers where ever I Drive it.
Mark.
Well, I took the cheap way out as I often do. Once I removed the modern dry-chemical extinguisher from the top of the deck, I realized that it looked great up there so uncluttered.
I found a great place to mount it underdeck on the driver's side. The pics explain how it is mounted and how I can retrieve it if the need arises.
Thanks again for all your responses.
Seth
Once again, another masterfully engineered and executed solution. Nice going!
But that car is way too clean.
Thanks Ken. Too much time on my hands, once again!
Seth, Looks like one of those sneaky contraptions on a James Bond 007 automobile where one pulls a lever and ten pounds of sharp nails drop to the road puncturing the tires of the bad guy following behind! It would also make a great holder for a Thermos of hot chocolate in the Winter......Michael Pawelek
G'day Seth , l have two of the PYRENE fire extunguishers , they look great , and ; find that people spot them and always ask if it works ! , mine are from 1914 and 17 , they can be found occassionally on T Bay and fetch around $ 45 - $ 70- , the brackets are harder to find by them selves.
Of cause in the event of a fire , they are absolutely useless , so tuck the new fire extinguisher away for easy access , say in the trunk, hope you like the pic.
lf l read correctly , l can refill this !! , l have tried to open them and find the best l can do is move the handle , is the top ( where the plunger/handle enters ) openable for refilling ?
David! Yes, of course I like the pic - and also that fine decal in the lower righthand corner of your windscreen!
Now you have PLENTY of brass to keep polished. How does one hold down a job and keep all that brass looking tip-top?
I don't know anything about these extinguishers except that they look COOL! I'd imagine they are far less effective on a petrol fire than dry-chemical.
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Seth
David, The principle ingreadiant in those old fire Ext. was Carbon tetrachloride. It was used in dry cleaning as well and is extremly hard on the liver.
Has anyone ever tried to use one of these old fire extinguishers ?
Jack l'll take that as not good for the body or anything else it comes into contact with.
Seth , how are you going, brass - ah yes it takes a while , not sure if l can sustain both work life and car life, but we are closing in on our plans to visit your shores next year , Will the US be ready for us ?
Here's a close up pic for ya.
Are you going to the 2008 ???
David,
I rather doubt you can even buy carbon tetrachloride any longer. If you could, you'd be paying mostly for the fifty pounds of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) that you would be required to take with you!
As mentioned above, carbon tet is mighty destructive to the liver. Save the liver for better jobs such as filtering ethanol out of the blood! Also, I've been told that if carbon tet comes in contact with hot aluminium (your spelling!) while putting out the fire, that phosgene gas is produced.
It is a beautiful piece, no doubt, but please don't fill it.
I hope I'm speaking for the rest of us yanks when I say that, YES! we eagerly await the arrival of all our buddies from the downunder! And yes, I will be there! (God be willing)
Cheers mate!
Seth
I believe the phosgene gas is a byproduct regardless of what the carbon tet comes in contact with.
It may be Warren. More reason to not fill and use it.
On a lighter note,they make good water guns. You can hose someone down from 10-15 feet away. Great fun in the summer time.
Those fire extinguishers and the soda acid type are against the law to use or even have in a business establishment. Seems like the soda acid was illegal by 1973. I'm not sure of the date on either though.
Seth,
If you have some energy and like to polish brass, I'll send you one that needs a lot of polishing for the cost of postage.
Chuck
Seth,I've got three of those and three soda-ash that need it to ,so get good at it and then get quick! (G)
Chuck and Jack,
I'm dang good at polishing brass, but only because of what I learned here on how to eliminate the major crud before I get out the polish. I have the best teachers on Earth!
Chuck,
I appreciate your offer and I'll take you up on it if it is small so that I can mount it under the cowl of my speedster. I'll send you a check for double the postage if it can be sent fairly inexpensively and it is small enough to fit under the cowl. E-mail me with diameter and overall length if you don't mind.
Thanks!
sethharbuck@bellsouth.net
Figure out how to get the dang baked clear coat off first. I failed to mention the six hose nozzles,that also need polished.
MEK or acetone? If that won't do it, Permatex brand Gasket Remover should - loaded with methylene chloride and crescylic (sp?) acid - just like carburetor cleaner of the distant past. Spray paint removers just don't perform like the Gasket Remover does.
DON'T get it on your bare skin - you'll burn for days!