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]
>
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