Speaking of fire extinguishers ...

[Pixelated]

I didn't want to threadjack AkaiKitsune's post but it reminded me of a funny story.

Many many years ago, Grandpa read about an offer by the local fire department: bring in your fire extinguisher for a free checkup and replacement (if need be). So he unhooked the extinguisher from the basement wall and went off to the fire department with it.

Grandpa hands over the extinguisher to the Fire Guy.

Fire Guy: "Where did you GET this??"

Grandpa: "Vat? It vas in my basement!" (Even after half a century here, Grandpa had a heavy German accent.)

Fire Guy:

The extinguisher was probably brand new back in the days of Al Capone. It contained WATER and you pumped the handle to work it.

Fire Guy: "Mister, I can't give this back to you ... it's not safe. But I can give you a brand new one."

Which he did.

Far as Grandpa was concerned, a fire extinguisher was a fire extinguisher. He brought the new one home and mounted it where the old one had been.

I suspect the one he'd taken in found its way to a display case in one or another of the city's fire department sites.

[AdamAnt316]

I'm pretty sure it's not illegal to own old fire extinguishers. Actually using them to try and put out a fire is probably not advisable, but I've seen old-fashioned brass fire extinguishers turned into rather nice table lamps. Of course, there probably are some types which aren't legal anymore, like the ones that use Halon, or the little fire grenades which were basically glass bulbs filled with a lovely substance called carbon tetrachloride.
-Adam

[Pixelated]

You might be right ... and I wasn't there, so I have to depend on (1) Grandpa's version of the story, and (2) my memory of Grandpa's version of the story ...

I thought I remembered him saying the firefighter "couldn't" give it back, but it's equally possible the firefighter gave him the new one and then asked "Do you want this back?" At which point Grandpa would've likely said no (for what? He had a brand new one in his hands. ) I would've certainly kept it, just for the conversational value.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I'm pretty sure it's not illegal to own old fire extinguishers. Actually using them to try and put out a fire is probably not advisable, ...

I feel about old fire extinguishers the same way I feel about inflatable toys with the label that says "Not to used as a flotation device." If that's the only option available, I will be using it.

[AdamAnt316]

I feel about old fire extinguishers the same way I feel about inflatable toys with the label that says "Not to used as a flotation device." If that's the only option available, I will be using it.

If the contents have been updated and the unit is in good working order, perhaps, but ONLY if it's appropriate to the type of fire being fought. Using an old-style water extinguisher on a grease fire, for example, wouldn't be a good idea.
-Adam

[Pixelated]

If the contents have been updated and the unit is in good working order, perhaps, but ONLY if it's appropriate to the type of fire being fought. Using an old-style water extinguisher on a grease fire, for example, wouldn't be a good idea.
-Adam

No, it would not, and I'm not entirely sure Grandpa would've thought of that had a grease fire started ...

[Nunavut Pants]

...there probably are some types which aren't legal anymore, like the ones that use Halon...

Actually, Halon extinguishers are quite legal to own and use.

They're not legal to manufacture, and I think they may not be legal to refill.

Amateur auto racers, whom I know a number of, tend to know something of these laws. Most have at least one fire extinguisher in the car; many have a permanently-mounted one that sprays the agent of choice in several key locations (e.g., on the engine, on the fuel tank, and on the pilot). Some still have hand-held Halon bottles, but most have moved to newer agents like Halotron or the aqueous foam stuff.

Some of the older dry agents, like "purple K", are very corrosive to aluminum alloys and to electrical wiring insulation. Car people try to stay away from those if they can.

I've used a dry-chem extinguisher to put out an oil fire on a race car, actually. Some oil leaked onto a turbocharger (HOT HOT HOT!!!) and started to burn. Fortunately it was a very small fire, so the one hand-held was good enough.

[AdamAnt316]

Actually, Halon extinguishers are quite legal to own and use.

They're not legal to manufacture, and I think they may not be legal to refill.

Amateur auto racers, whom I know a number of, tend to know something of these laws. Most have at least one fire extinguisher in the car; many have a permanently-mounted one that sprays the agent of choice in several key locations (e.g., on the engine, on the fuel tank, and on the pilot). Some still have hand-held Halon bottles, but most have moved to newer agents like Halotron or the aqueous foam stuff.

Some of the older dry agents, like "purple K", are very corrosive to aluminum alloys and to electrical wiring insulation. Car people try to stay away from those if they can.

I've used a dry-chem extinguisher to put out an oil fire on a race car, actually. Some oil leaked onto a turbocharger (HOT HOT HOT!!!) and started to burn. Fortunately it was a very small fire, so the one hand-held was good enough.

Understood. I'd heard something about Halon being banned, but wasn't sure how it affected existing fire extinguishers and the legality of buying/owning them. Fortunately, I have yet to need to make use of a fire extinguisher ***KNOCK ON WOOD***, but given some of the stuff I collect, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if I eventually get the 'opportunity'.....
-Adam

[Crossbow]

My father in law had two of the old copper/brass fire extinguisher table lamps. Pretty sure that the two sons got them after he passed.

And my late friend's mom had the carbon tet bulbs all over her house- one in each room, more or less. Kept them right up to when she passed and he and his sister sold the house. Had to remove all of them before the house could go on the market.