Pair of Late 19th C. Fire Extinguishers by Phoenix

C-18817 1899; The Phoenix Appliance Co., Inc. - Norwich, CT Matched pair of cylindrical fire extinguishers constructed from lacquered and lithographed metal tubes, originally filled with dry fire-extinguishing compound. Both examples retain their original crackle-finish surfaces with remnants of applied graphics and instructional text consistent with Phoenix production of the late 19th century. The tubes were designed to be suspended from hooks and deployed by removing the lower portion and forcefully casting the compound at the base of a fire, a method typical of early portable extinguishers used in homes, factories, and commercial buildings. The Phoenix Appliance Co. of Norwich, Connecticut was an early American manufacturer of fire safety equipment, known for developing and patenting ...