Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-26
Invention Of an Augusta
Man Demonstrated.
Blaze Quickly Extinguished in
| Stable and Yard.
Inventor Negotiating for Its Sale
On Island Of Cuba.

Eden w. Hanks of II Crosby street
has perfected and is now placing on
the market, a fire extinguisher the
workings of which are little short OF
marvellous. He has already entered
into negotiations with representatives
of the Cuban government for the pur-
chase Of $4,000 worth of these eXtin-
guishers for use on the island and is
also negotiating with the authorities
in charge of~the work in the canal
zone for their use there.
A few days ago Mr.. Hanks gave an
exhibition to the citizens of the city
of Bath of the workings of the ex
tirguiSher and in their presence ex-
tinguished tiercely burning gasoline
fire so quickly and SO thoroughly as
to meet with the instant approval of
(all who witnessed the performance.
Mr. Hanks will in the near future, at
some date to be announced in
the Journal, give public exhibition of
the workings of the extinguishcr in
Market square in order that the en-
tire Augusta public may see it in OPP
Grafton.
The extinguisher invented by Mr..
Hanks is in the form Of metal tube.
20 inches long and holds three quarts of
powder, which eXtinguishes fire of any
kind the moment it strikes it.. The ex-
tinguisher is fitted with a cap, which
removes when it is pulled from the
hook upon which it is hung. leaving the
operator free to apply the powder at
will.
The extinguisher is entirely different
from any powder extinguisher on the
market, and is composed of seven diff
ferent ingredients prepared in accord
ance with formula. which Mr. Hanks
worked out with the assistance of sew
eral Boston chemists. The nature of
the powder is such that it entirely
eliminates the oxygen, wherever it
strikes leaving the fire nothing to feed
upon.
The invention of Mr.. Hanks so far
as he knows, is the only extinguisher
on the market today, which will sue
cessfully put out a gasoline fire. max
ing it of great value for carrying upon
ali automobile or power boat. The
form of the tube is such that when it
is uncovered the powder can be hurled
fl ON it more than 20 feet and still do
execution. While many other hand
extinguishers require fireman to
handle properly without danger of in
Jury to the person using them, the
Hanks extinguisher is so simple that
it may be handled without the least
possible danger by woman or child.
This extinguisher will be found to
be of particular value in country
homes, where there is no fire. depart
ment within a long distance. Suppose.
for instance. in a country home lamp
should explode. setting fire to room
in half dozen different places. The
Hanks extinguishcr can be put in OPP
erat1cn almost instantaneOusly, and
each place where the fire has burst in
to flame at once doused with the con-
tents Where 8: carpet or the clothing
Of a person is on fire application OF
the powder will also instantly extln-
guish the blaze. In the case of Chin
ney fire the extnguisher can also be
worked with instant effect. "a grass
fire extending over 500 rods could be
nut out with the contents of Il single
extinguisher. says Mr.. Hanks. The
cost is only on the first purchase of the
extinguisher as Mr.. Hanks agrees to
has been used in putting out fires.
A Journal reporter had the pleasure
Tuesday forenoon of witnessing dem
onstration of the Hanks extinguisher
at the home Of it's inventor. First d
fire was started of hay saturated with
kerosene and gasoline within two feet
of a haymow and Il very short dis
lance from a valuable horse owned by
Mr. Hanks The fire was blazing in
good shape when the genial inventor
reached to the wall and pulled the
extinguisher from the hook. A hand
full of the powder thrown directly upon
the blaze put the fire out quicker than
words can tell it, Another fire was
kindled in the yard and fed with sticks
of wood saturated with kerosene and
although the flames shot nearly 20 feet
in the air before the extinguisher was
applied it required but q couple OF
handfulls of the powder to cxtinguish
it and even prevent the remains from
smoking. Mr.. Hanks stated that on a
previous demonstration at home he had
put out with the same ease fire
started with gasoline, which was shoot
ing out flames nearly 40 feet.
although Mr., Hanks is now dev"t-
ing considerable time to his fire eX-
tinguisher he is by no means neglect
ing his belt and suspender business
for the accommodation of which he
has recently built good sized factory
at the rear of his residence on Crosby
street.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. W. Corey of