Comments on: Catapulted “Bomb” Puts Out Fire http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:45:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: D.J. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1062575 D.J. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:42:49 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1062575 I have one of these i've had it for 25 years anybody know if its worth any thing I have one of these i’ve had it for 25 years anybody know if its worth any thing

]]> By: Rob Groves http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1060707 Rob Groves Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:48:50 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1060707 Hi, I have one of these carbon tet. Fire extinguishers stored away in a padded wooden crate. I removed it from my Grandmothers farmhouse, it was attached to the insulated chimney that passed through the second story. It is quite alot fancier than this model shown but still activates when the flame is hot enough to melt the solder on the spring mech. There were also 3 that looked like the one shown located in the old barn. The reason these things worked well was because the Carbon Tet. Displaces oxygen in a room almost instantly.... problem being, It also displaced the oxygen in peoples lungs just as fast. Hi, I have one of these carbon tet. Fire extinguishers stored away in a padded wooden crate. I removed it from my Grandmothers farmhouse, it was attached to the insulated chimney that passed through the second story. It is quite alot fancier than this model shown but still activates when the flame is hot enough to melt the solder on the spring mech. There were also 3 that looked like the one shown located in the old barn. The reason these things worked well was because the Carbon Tet. Displaces oxygen in a room almost instantly…. problem being, It also displaced the oxygen in peoples lungs just as fast.

]]> By: Dane http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1046806 Dane Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:30:37 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1046806 Jayessell- The Joe E. Brown character almost burned the building down--he had the wrong briefcase--the one without bombs! Eventually he got them and they worked beautifully. Then it was off to the ballgame for more heroics. Don't recall a musical theme... Jayessell-
The Joe E. Brown character almost burned the building down–he had the wrong briefcase–the one without bombs! Eventually he got them and they worked beautifully. Then it was off to the ballgame for more heroics. Don’t recall a musical theme…

]]> By: Adrian http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045712 Adrian Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:35:50 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045712 I may be wrong but it looks like the product doesn't match the description. It looks like the model shown simply breaks the bottom off the glass bulb when the striker is released. There is no mechanism for the bulb itself to be jettisoned. I may be wrong but it looks like the product doesn’t match the description.

It looks like the model shown simply breaks the bottom off the glass bulb when the striker is released. There is no mechanism for the bulb itself to be jettisoned.

]]> By: Patrick http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045428 Patrick Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:20:26 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045428 My grandparents house has at least five of these, but they are just the bulbs. The house is pretty old, it's from the early 1940's or so. My grandparents house has at least five of these, but they are just the bulbs. The house is pretty old, it’s from the early 1940’s or so.

]]> By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045344 jayessell Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:18:05 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045344 The George Pal "Doc Savage" movie featured anti-fire bombs. Dane... Is that the movie with a fireman/inventor who starts a fire in an office wastebasket and puts it out with two squirts from his experimental extinguisher? Was it a musical or did it have a musical sequence? The George Pal “Doc Savage” movie featured anti-fire bombs.

Dane…
Is that the movie with a fireman/inventor who starts a fire in an office wastebasket and puts it out with two squirts from his experimental extinguisher?
Was it a musical or did it have a musical sequence?

]]> By: Alan J. Richer http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045342 Alan J. Richer Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:34:22 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045342 Actually, you might want to be careful with those. Often the contents of those fire extinguishing globes was carbon tetrachloride. I have a manual pump fire extinguisher that was filled with it - now it resides in a sealed flask in my workshop. The fumes from that stuff will cause kidney failure...leading to its banning for common usage as a spot remover/dry cleaning fluid. ajr Actually, you might want to be careful with those. Often the contents of those fire extinguishing globes was carbon tetrachloride.

I have a manual pump fire extinguisher that was filled with it - now it resides in a sealed flask in my workshop. The fumes from that stuff will cause kidney failure…leading to its banning for common usage as a spot remover/dry cleaning fluid.

ajr

]]> By: mdhatter http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045341 mdhatter Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:30:40 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045341 I have several of these 'bombs'. As best I can figure there are no hazardous materials involved. They are remarkably common in the eaves and furnace rooms of buildings constructed c. 1910. I have several of these ‘bombs’. As best I can figure there are no hazardous materials involved. They are remarkably common in the eaves and furnace rooms of buildings constructed c. 1910.

]]> By: Dane http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045279 Dane Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:32:44 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045279 This reminds me of an old Joe E. Brown movie: "Fireman Save My Child" It is part of a Ring Lardner baseball trilogy, and Brown has little "bombs" to put out fires that he's trying to sell. This reminds me of an old Joe E. Brown movie:
“Fireman Save My Child”
It is part of a Ring Lardner baseball trilogy, and Brown has little “bombs” to put out fires that he’s trying to sell.

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045270 Stannous Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:35:32 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045270 I like the company name (reminiscent of "The Producers") and the inevitable ad tagline: "If this puts out a fire it's a MIRACLE!" I like the company name (reminiscent of “The Producers”) and the inevitable ad tagline:

“If this puts out a fire it’s a MIRACLE!”

]]> By: Eli http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045264 Eli Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:44:32 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045264 I think the assumption is that if it's hot enough to melt the plug, there's not much in the room other than the fire. I think the assumption is that if it’s hot enough to melt the plug, there’s not much in the room other than the fire.

]]> By: Roflcopter http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045250 Roflcopter Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:28:30 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/31/catapulted-bomb-puts-out-fire/#comment-1045250 Why must this contraption catapult itself into the fire anyways... Isn it too dangerous that the thingy will possible miss the fire and splash far away without doing anything? Not even thinking of someone trying to escape the fire and finally finds himself dodging glass bombs here and there, not to mention fire fighters... Sounds very weird to me... Why must this contraption catapult itself into the fire anyways… Isn it too dangerous that the thingy will possible miss the fire and splash far away without doing anything?
Not even thinking of someone trying to escape the fire and finally finds himself dodging glass bombs here and there, not to mention fire fighters…

Sounds very weird to me…

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