Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-06-02
By Means of Com
pressed Air
Cartridges Each
Containing a
Quart OfFireKiII-|
Ing Chemicals.

An apparatus which bids fair to
Irevolutionfze fire fighting methods
everywhere has been invented BY
Perth Amboy men who are now orr
ganizing company to carry on the
work. The plans have been perfect~
ing for the past two years and 1t was
not until patents had been secured,
covering all parts OF the apparatuss
that the details became KNOWN
Three of these apparatus are now
preparing for construction and aa
soon as one is completed It will be
given test in this city. They will
be placed on the market for sale at
once, one having already been en-
gagged.
The idea carried out is the mutual
invention of Gyula de Festetics and
| Peter A. Johansen, who particularly
assisted in perfecting the details.
These men have organized the Autos
matte Fire Gun & Cartridge Come
pany, which is capitalized at $100,T
600 under the laws Of the state of
New Jersey. The incorporators and
officers are: President, Gyula de
Festetics; vice president and general
manager, Peter A. Johansen; treas-
urer, l.. M. Johansen. The Office Of
the company at present is at the
Perth Amboy Foundry G Machine
Company's works.
Slxyscrapers Suggested 1t.
In discussing the invention Mr.. de
Festetics said today that he began
thinking on the matter when told by
Fire Chief Croker, of New York, that
| It was impossible to reach higher
than eighteen floors in fighting fires.
He said his invention will carry to q
| height of $50 feet above the flag pole
on the Singer building, which, he be-,
| lieves, will be sufficient for some
time to come.
The invention is, In reality, q
chemical fire engine which, instead
of using a hose, shoots cartridges
containing fire extinguishing chemi-
calls. These cartridges explode bT
striking against an object or are ex-
ploded by excessive heat. The appar-
atus resembles a cannon mounted on
an automobile. Compressed air IA
used for firing the gun SO that no
fire is needed or anything more than
merely pressing the lever. AS fast
as this is done the cartridges, each
containing q quart Of the extinguish-
ing fluid which will kill outright any
fire within fifty yards of where 10
IL
liar to the fire of Gattling gun In
the army. In fact, this invention ID
to do to blaze just what the CAT
Ting gun does to an enemy.
BY means of pointers and indica~
tors on the apparatus the fireman ops
Grating the gun can aim 1t easily and
positively fixing the aim in one exact
spots as long as he SO desires.
For Villages and Country Estates.
Besides being a means of battling
with the flames in the skyscrapera
the machine is intended to be Of
great service in small villages and
costly country estates of rich men
where there Is no fire protection,
The apparatus can be kept In barn
and, when fire breaks out, 1T Is ready
for instant service, shooting con-
stant fire of cartridges loaded with
fire-kilIing liquid into the flames by
the mere pressing of lever. The
air pressure back of this fire is 1000
pounds to the square inch. This can
be increased as desired.
The patents on the inventions have
been secured in the names of Mr..
de Festetics and Mr.. Johansen joint
ly. Already arrangements have been
made with a gun manufacturing COM
cern to supply the tubes. Cartridges
have also been ordered. Castings
are being made at the local plant and
eventually a plant will be erected In
this city for the making Of the ap-
paratus complete.
There are three sizes, one for the
cities and the skyserapers, one for
the villages and towns and another
for the isolated country estates. The
inventors have been highly compile
mented upon the machine and
great future has been predicted for
It.