You might want to contact the local college chemistry department for 
additional assistance on how to drain the liquid and retain the object (they 
might even do it); if that is even legally possible.


>From: Lynita Langley-Ware <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Questions about fire extinguishers
>Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:14:15 -0600
>
>Greetings everyone!  Here's a collections/conservation question we need 
>some guidance on.
>
>We were recently given a fire extinguisher that we have determined to be 
>unstable.  It is one of those that looks like a giant light bulb filled 
>with water, and it sits on a wall sconce until needed.  In case of a fire, 
>you throw the thing into the fire, it shatters, and the clear liquid (NOT 
>water) extinguishes the flames.  Come to find out its filled with a really 
>unstable liquid called carbon tetrachloride, which does awful things to 
>your respiratory system if inhaled.  We called the fire department next 
>door, they sent over the bomb squad and they took it away.  Oh, and all 
>that happened while we were having a holiday open house!  Well, we have 
>another one that has been in collections for over 10 years, and it recently 
>resurfaced.  We'd like to have it deactivated and retain the glass globe.  
>My question is, has anyone encountered something like this, and how was it 
>handled?  When we asked the bomb squad about deactivating it, they told us 
>they'd get back to us.  That was over four months ago, and they have 
>destroyed the thing, so I don't want to take this one to them. We'd like to 
>display the artifact in our history of the county fire department exhibit, 
>but not if it is unstable.
>
>Any direction would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Lynita Langley-Ware
>
>--
>Lynita Langley-Ware, M.A., R.P.A.
>Director, Faulkner County Museum
>PO Box 2442
>Conway, Arkansas 72033
>501-329-5918
>[log in to unmask]
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at 
>http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed 
>information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail 
>message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should 
>read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to 
>[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff 
>Museum-L" (without the quotes).

_________________________________________________________________
Type your favorite song.  Get a customized station.  Try MSN Radio powered 
by Pandora. http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07001

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).