Harkness Fire destroyer whats in it?

[NoThreat]

Well, I know what it is....but not whats in it.

It is sealed with original contents, but is it saltwater or nasty chemicals.

I'v delved to many places, but I can't seem to date this rare beauty. which seems to be the factor which determines what may be in it.

Anyone have an Idea or a resource?
thanks
John

 

[KentOhio]

That's something I've wondered too... how to tell the toxic chemical from saltwater. If the stopper is still sealed tightly I'd just leave it alone and hope it never breaks open. Lots of times they have that cement-type stuff holding it in; it always looked to me like someone could break one trying to open it.

 

[NoThreat]

thanks for the fast response..My cousin is in the fire dept here.

Im concerned because if you tip it over and let it sit a minute it leaks..

I think I'll move it to the garage,
I was hoping to find an historical reference that stated the cmopany and what they used in their grenades.

thanks again

 

[NoThreat]

Yup thats it!
A recent bottle book i have has it at 600 or so.
I was going to sell it on good ole ebay but the checmical issue stopped me.
I have a few others that came from my moms basement, which has me interested in bottles.
It sits on an angle because it was made that way, prolly set down while still hot
My wife won't go diggin in a loo though......
here is a pic...

 

[medbottle]

Hi NoThreat. First of all, beautiful bottle! Second, for everyone who is concerned about carbon tetrachloride in these grenades, the chemical wasn't synthesized until 1918, (see this site: www.firehouse.com/news/2002/5/9_Pextinguish.html ) so you needn't worry about the older grenades.

In addition, carbon tetrachloride is much denser than water, and a grenade containing this liquid will be noticeably heavier than a grenade containing water. Anyone who has ever held one of the newer "tear drop" fire grenades has probably noticed this.

 

[NoThreat]

Thank you medbottle, MUCH appreciated

I can then assume this bottle was made before 1918?
the hoard i have is almost all late 1800 med bottles and this fire grenade.

I can't really sell it if im not sure it was salt water.

also I have a real cool "shaker family pills" "aj white" listed in the kovels book
it has never been opened and still has a small paper thing covering the cork
got some other med bottles. several never touched since they were put in a basement a hundred years ago.
here's the shaker pill bottle. im rather interested in selling too.

 

[GuntherHess]

the last shaker pills with a label that I saw sold for $102.00. That's a good find.
I cant really tell from photo but it looks like it may be a lighter amber color, even better.
There are a bunch of shaker bottles and they are pretty sought after.

 

[NoThreat]

The bottle is an amber color and the pills are all discolored..eww
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