Horse Drawn Chemical Apparatus

[District5]

This sharp looking chemical wagon was most likely delivered to a department somewhere in Pennsylvania.

[Box 2565]

This 2-tank chemical is likely from the Boston area.  The large company emblem in the shape of a cross that is seen on their dress uniform hats was common in that part of the U.S.
Image from eBay.

[MFDPhoto1]

Massillon, Ohio
1905 Seagrave Chemical
at No. 2 Station

[Box 2565]

This is a beautiful view from a hand-colored slide showing a chemical engine and a hose reel.  In addition to a couple of good pieces of apparatus there is also a pretty nice looking fire station to house them in.  The location of this classic scene is not known.  A fire alarm box is mounted to the far right of the firehouse.
Image from eBay.

[Buckeye 53]

Scranton, PA operated this 2-tank chemical rig as Engine 2.
Photographer Unknown
Image Courtesy of Steve Hagy.

[MFDPhoto1]

A few "Chemical" questions;

For some reason I never gave this much thought, but would be grateful for the answers.   

1. When you closed a hand-line from a chemical source, was there a "relief or bypass" to prevent the tanks from bursting from the internal pressure ?  

2. On a chemical/hose wagon, after the water was expelled from the on-board tank(s), could a supply from a hydrant be connected to the apparatus...[bypassing the tanks] to the hand-lines already in use?

Thanks in advance...Bob

[magicitybill]

There is no relief valve on the chemical system. Once you start it you cannot stop it and you must open a nozzle or something is going to burst! I believe that the nozzle may be closed intermittently but not left closed. Weeeled extinguishers that tip may be righted but you might still have agent expelled. May be without as much liquid.

Chemical systems all used booster size hose and did not discharge into hand lines. There is not a way to connect the two. Many truck mounted systems had a 2 1/2" hose connection to re fill the tank & I think the chemical line might be supplyed from the hydrant that way.  Most truck mounted systems, & chemical carts carried an extra charge of acid and soda, some had a fitting for filling the tank from a hydrant while others carried buckets for the purpose.

I will try to post some photos to explain.

[MFDPhoto1]

Thanks Bill for the information...very helpful.

One more question along the same line.  Two of the 1941 Seagrave pump's and the 1945, had a 2-1/2 soda-acid extinguisher mounted on the starboard, rear tailboard.  These all had at least a 2ft. hose [unlike the commercial ones in buildings] wrapped around the top...with a SHUT-OFF COCK AT THE TIP  . 

I enclosed a pic [not very detailed], and you might be able to see the SHUT-OFF at the tip of the hose sticking out of the top.   Ques then; how were these able to be shut-off without blowing the can?

[magicitybill]

These extinguishers usually have a strap too. Firemen would put the strap over their shoulder and carry them in a building etc..to use. I always thought the longer hose was for using the extinguisher while it was being carried over the shoulder. Remember they had to be upside down for use. Again there is no relief on these extinguishers either. I would not start one and just close the valve.

[MFDPhoto1]

Many thanks AGAIN Bill.  The 2-1/2 gal. S/A [chems] did a lot of fire extinguishment in the early years...much to the surprise of those who have not seen one...except as a decorative lamp sitting in someones' room or at a flea market.      

Anyway, I just wondered WHAT the SHUT-OFF was for, but maybe there is no one living to tell about what happened...who did shut one off...?  

Bob

[magicitybill]

Take a look at "Chemical tank plumbing"

[magicitybill]

Take a look at "chemical tank plumbing" under CHEMICAL ENGINES. I posted it wrong. Sorry

[magicitybill]

The photo is of a 1918 American La France tripple. The pipe from the left comes from the pump discharge , just above it in the plumbing is the tank fill fitting. The chemical hose could be charged from the hydrant from these. At the top of the plumbing is the gage and the tank itself. The valves in front of the tank route the chemical tank discharge out to the chemical hose. The tipping handle can be seen between the gauge and the hose to the right.

Remember that on a straight chemical car there is no pump discharge. Take a look at the Jan 14th,07 post by Box2565 of the Boyer Chemical cart. The buckets in the basket are for filling the tank.

I have seen a photo of a burst chemical tank but I cannot find it. I will look some more.

[MFDPhoto1]

Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Co. of Chicago poster.  No date given.

e-bay photo-The2FunAdGuyz

[X Chief 1]

The "chemical" aspect of soda-acid fire extinguishers and those 35 or 40 gallon tanks on chemical rigs cannot be overlooked.  Most of the bursting was caused by an obstruction in the system, most often in the hose.  If the chemical mixture was correct, that is, for example in a 2 1/2 gallon extinguisher, one pound of soda and a bottle of sulphuric acid correctly filled (and they were correctly filled in the re-charge kits), and the correct amount of water, there was almost no chance of a burst extinguisher.  The same applies to the larger tanks --it's when the "rules" of chemistry isn't followed that problems begin.  Naturally, any time one deals with pressure bursting/explosions can happen - - metal fatigue also comes into play.  Testing of pressure vessels is an absolute must.
Dan