Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-09-04
The Phillips Fire lnHihilat0r.

y Mr.. Davenport, OF st. Louis, announ-
ccs in late number Of the Republican.
that he has secured the right to sell the
Fire Annihilator' invented by Mr. Phil
lips, of London. As this machine prom
iees to supcrcede all present appliances
for cXtinguishing fires, and to be useful in
an infinite variety Of situations, where the
form of engine now III use, with its accom-
paniment Of hose carriage, hooks and lad
ders, can never be introduced, we think it
cannot but prove interesting to readers
generally to learn something about it
The best description Of this machine we
have Yet met with is contained IN a letter
written from London to the Boston Trans
cript. The writer says:
: Phillips's Fire Annihilator" cxtin-
gUishcs fire without the use of water
| TIE machines arc Of various sizes. depen-
ding upon the use to which they are requi-
red to be applied Those ordinarily used
for the protection Of dwellings and stores
are about the size Of a coal-scuttlc and
weigh about twenty pounds each They
arc made Of strong sheet-irOn, somewhat
III the form Of pail, with strong cover.
and with various compartments inside
number of chemical preparations, which
when brought into contact by simple
mechanical contrIvaEcc, produce an i'm
mense volume of gaseous vapor or steam.
which rushcs out from an aperture in the
cover, and fills the room. This yauor on
coming In contact with flame. instantant-
ly eXtinguishcs it although it can be
breathed with perfect impunity. 4 room
that is filed with flame and smoke. so as
to be inaccessible under ordinary ciroum-
stances; can be readily entered with one
of these machines IN operation.
The Annihilator instantly cnyclopcs it
self, and the person holding it. in an at
mosphcre which ran be Lrcathcd. and at
the same time keeps at bay, and cxtin-
guishes all fame in the apartment
The cost Of such a machine as [ have
mentioned, when charged, is about ten
dollars and can be rc-chargcd for one
dollar One such machine is abundantly
sufficient for the protection Of any ordina-
ry dwelling house or store. Larger ma
chimes to run on wheels, and to which hose
can be attached and used for large fires.
cost from two to three hundred dollars
each.
The following description of a series of
striking experiments with the Annihilator
by Mr.. Phillips, will be read with inter
est. 1t is taken from the London Shipp-
ing Gazette;
1--WE attended another demonstration
Of the powers and applicability of this
wonderful invention at Milbank on Tues
day last, the spot chosen (Mcssrs. John
sons stone yard) being especially for the
convenience Of members Of the legislature
and other public men. Our business in
attending these experiments frequently is
to find out causes Of failure, should such
occur; bat the more we see of the opera
ton, the more we are convinced Of its un-
erring Certainty, rendered also more valu-
able by the fac.l ty with which it Is applied
under every conceivable circumstance
which may attend a confagratlon. The
first exhibition was in a wood framed
house, flied With plankiug and shavings
saturated with turTcutine and tar; when
ferccly ignitcd the flames pouring out at
the windows and through the roof, the ap-
plication Of two hand machines quenched
the fire completely in three minutes.