Something very similar happened to me here about six months ago. I found
an old fire extinguisher that had corroding seals and may or may not
have been leaking. I started checking out what it was and realized that
it needed to be dealt with. Our organization contacts with a Fire Safety
and Supply company for our current extinguishers. I called them and they
were able to pick it up, take it away and empty it and then bring it
back. I had paperwork/receipts for them to sign and to keep tracking it
at all times and I was able to speak with them regarding historical
concerns for the piece. I did turn down their offer to make the metal
look like new for us, free of charge!
Yours is a slightly different type than ours, but try to contact a fire
extinguisher company. It hasn't been so long since carbon tet was used,
that you may find someone who has been in the business for 30 years and
has worked with it.
I did a lot of research into the nasty ramifications of what COULD
(granted unlikely, but possible) happen if it ever broke or leaked. I
decided that even if the piece could not be saved, it was too hazardous
to keep. Luckily, it was emptied and has been returned to us.
Good luck with it.
Lisa
Lisa Shockley, Collections Technician
Union Station/Kansas City Museum
30 W. Pershing Road
Kansas City, MO 64108
816-460-2055
"Where there is Peace; there is Culture;
Where there is Culture; there is Peace."
Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Lynita Langley-Ware
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Questions about fire extinguishers
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]
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