posted on October 8, 2000 08:43:05 PM new
Hello All
I went to an auction this weekend. In this auction I purchased 2 cases of Red Comet fire extinguishers. The auctioneer said they had been outlawed for use years ago, but I thought they would make great ebay material. I found out when I got home they could not be listed. As far as I know they are not illegal to own and it must be ok to sell them or I don't think they would have been up for auction, but I'm not sure. Can anyone shed more light on this for me? If its ok to sell them where would I find a buyer? This is for sure an item you WOULD NOT want to send thru any kind of mail or ups. Thank you for your input!!
posted on October 8, 2000 09:18:11 PM newenvy, are these the glass fire grenades? I just read an article in one of the antique trade papers about them. Be careful! Some of them contain nerve gas (can't remember the name of the chemical) and are lethal.
This article reported that a collector had died after breathing the fumes these things exude.
I don't want to unnecessarily alarm you because not all of the grenades contain this chemical. (But you ought to find out pronto.)
ubb
[ edited by fountainhouse on Oct 8, 2000 09:18 PM ]
posted on October 8, 2000 10:48:56 PM new
Anyone else out there had experience with these? We got 2 or 3 at an auction years ago, and they're packed away in a super-padded box 'cause I don't know what to do with them!?!?!
PS: I wouldn't assume they're legal just because they were auctioned off. Numerous estate auctions (on-site) have banned chemicals sold off from the basements/garden sheds etc., etc.
Find your nearest Fire Department Station or Fire Prevention Bureau, call them up, and ask them about your extinguishers. They should be the best people to advise you and possably be willing to take them off your hands.
Also, contact your local Consumer Safety Office, and ask about it there also.
And, I think the "nerve gas" in the grenade was Chlorine, a.k.a. Mustard Gas.
An Uncle was a fireman and almost died when an extinguisher exploded in his hands, sending a yellow cloud around him.
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
[ edited by Crystalline_Sliver on Oct 8, 2000 11:41 PM ]
posted on October 8, 2000 11:34:26 PM new
I understand your position. You invested into something that you never did your homework for. Since they are illegal to use in the USA, why not ship them to someone south of the boarder? After all, the pesticide companies sell DDT south by the oil tanker load; our pharmaceutical companies sell illegal medications to 3rd world nations that cause hideous birth and side effects; our politicians actually BRAG in front of cameras these days about how totally unethical that they are.
So why should you be expected to be a decent human being and just bite the bullet on the money you spent, take the illegal fire extinguishers down to your local fire department for proper disposal, when even our ministers and clergymen, police and firemen, the cats and the dogs are all out there "getting a buck and a f88k" and to Hell with anyone else and you are expected to be a decent person?
posted on October 9, 2000 06:14:09 AM newborillar, your criticism is unfair and ill-founded.
Many folks collect fire grenades, legitimate relics of our firefighting history. As I said, they do not all contain harmful chemicals.
But it behooves envy to educate himself lest he become a victim of his own curiosity. envy, do a net search for "fire grenades." There are several online firefighting museums that may have some helpful information. I'm not so sure about the suggestion to call your local FD, which will most probably confiscate first and ask questions later, if at all.
crystalline_sliver, the chemical name I'm trying to remember was one of those multi-syllable tongue-twisters. I'm sure it wasn't chlorine. If I get a chance later, I'll try to find the publication with the article.
I've emailed a couple of contacts given on another web site as having experience with fire grenades. If/when they reply, I'll post their response.
A search of ebay completed auctions produced about 20 matches. Most bottles were empty. Good prices, BTW.
The chemical I was trying to think of is carbon tetrachloride. According to the US Public Health Service, "...After exposure to high levels of carbon tetrachloride, the nervous system, including the brain, is affected. Such exposure can be fatal. The immediate effects are usually signs of intoxication, including headache, dizziness, and sleepiness perhaps accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These effects usually disappear within a day or two after exposure stops. In severe cases, stupor or even coma can result, and permanent damage to nerve cells can occur."
Edited to add that I find it very interesting that most of the current auctions for fire grenades (about a dozen) have been nuked by ebay, while none of the 20-or-so completed auctions were ended prematurely. Who says they don't read these boards?
[ edited by fountainhouse on Oct 9, 2000 07:56 AM ]
posted on October 9, 2000 07:37:20 AM new
"Find your nearest Fire Department Station or Fire Prevention Bureau, call them up, and ask them about your extinguishers. They should be the best people to advise you and possably be willing to take them off your hands. "
Yes, that would be real generous of you. A fireman will take them home and put them in his own collection of firefighting memorabilia.
These are collectible items. Why give them away? If you can't sell them on ebay and can't ship them, advertise them in your local wantad or pennysaver. Some collector will pay you a nice profit for them.
posted on October 9, 2000 08:00:17 AM new
Recollection -
From what I remember of my old chemistry days, some of the fire extinguishers contained carbon tetrachloride - puts out fires fine, but the heat creates phosgene gas - nerve gas. I think these were the silver, tip upside down types that were everywhere in the 40's.
posted on October 9, 2000 08:19:43 AM new
Assuming these are legal to own and sell, then the question is...how much are they worth? If worth enough, they would justify a nice vacation..er, I mean business trip to an auction location. I agree, don't ship them.
If they aren't worth enough, then a local ad is your best bet.
Borillar: your "logic" is faulty here. Taking advantage of third-world countries is one thing; selling to a knowledgeable collector is another. There is nothing immoral here, assuming there is an accurate description of the item, and assuming the item is disposed of responsibly, one way or the other (and selling to a collector would be one of those ways).
posted on October 9, 2000 03:14:28 PM new
Fountainhouse and others - Thank you for the info. One of the glass grenades is empty, the liquid must have seeped out years ago as it does not look recent. So maybe I will try my luck with that and the holders on ebay.
