O/T Need Info on this, PICS

Ben Donovan · Mar 4, 2010

I recently bought this old fire extinguisher it came out of the John Deere Moline plant, there arent any markings on it to prove it but anyways can anyone tell me about this or what one might be worth it says American LaFrance Foamlite Corp. any idea what year this might be
Thanks

BigMarvfromGa · Mar 4, 2010

We have these at work also. They replaced them a few years ago due to hydrostatic testing of the bottles. They are compressed with nitrogen.

showcrop · Mar 4, 2010

there used to be an awful lot of those around. They came out of service probably around 1965 because after being pressurized by the soda-acid reaction, on rare occasion the outlet tube would plug and the cylinder would explode. The 2.5 gal units were much more popular. You used to see the wheeled ones in corners or salvage yards or antique shops for sale for five dollars. maybe in fifty years they will be rare enough to be valuable.

cb in wisc · Mar 4, 2010

There was one of those I remember when I worked at Farmall. One evening someone started a trash fire, a supervisor pulled the cart up, grabbed the nozzele and hose and all he got was the nozzle and about a foot of hose. The hose had rotted apart. The fire got put out by someone else with a modern extinghuisher, but there was one unhappy and embaressed supervisor.

Wardner · Mar 4, 2010

Process Engineering Inc of Methuen, MA and later of Plaistow, NH used to make them prior to, during, and after WW2. They were also involved in the Manhatten Project (Atom Bomb).

Their product line then shifted to cyrogenic dewars in the 1600 gal to 70,000 gal size. At one point (1970's) they had more than half of the US business and a considerable export business. Their dewars still charge the liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks for the space shuttles.

I am assuming that most of their fire ex's were rebranded. I assume there must be a ASME code tag somewhere. Don't think they are worth much but they might make a good sandblaster.

Oldmax · Mar 4, 2010

I have junked a few of those. The last one my LOL had me make into a hanger for Pots and pans. Had to hang over cook stove . Ben 20 years ago and it isw still there.

olddog · Mar 4, 2010

They were made prior to the 50's. Inside is an acid container that dumped into soda water. Uncle worked in that department at American Lafrance, Elmira, N.Y. He stamped out many many 1000's of 2 1/2 pounders. Dad worked there 50's thru mid 80's. I worked in fire truck 60's thru mid 80's. They closed 'er down in '85 and moved outta town. I think they spun the extinquisher line off at that time. Currently located in Summerville SC. Google it.

Kevin Bismark · Mar 4, 2010

Believe it or not, they are still being used around the world, have seen them at some of the airports in the Philippines, did a double take the first time I saw one on the ramp sitting next to a nice new Cebu Pacific A-319, guess it works, about all they had there, the last trip at least they had a tug to pull the luggage carts up to the "terminal".

O/T Need Info on this, PICS

Ben Donovan

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BigMarvfromGa

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showcrop

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cb in wisc

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Wardner

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Oldmax

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olddog

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Kevin Bismark

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