Old airpacks and cylinders

[Svfman]

I am doing a presentation on airpacks for a class and was wandering what exactly the 60's and 70's era air cylinders for SCBA were made of? steel?aluminum? what??
Any help would be great
Thanks,
Ryan

[RyanEMVFD]

Steel with what felt like a combination of lead and cast iron.

[Svfman]

Thats kind of what i thought, but could not find any info to back it up. Thanks for the help
Ryan

[fireman4949]

Steel with what felt like a combination of lead and cast iron.

You know it!

When I started (1990), we had mostly aluminum tanks, but there were quite a few steel tanks still in service. We would always try to come to work a few minutes early to make sure we got (stole) an aluminum bottle for our pack. :o

When we finally switched to all composite tanks, we were in Hog Heaven!




Kevin :D

[dmleblanc]

Steel when I first started, then switched to aluminum and composites. We still have a few steels hanging around, not used on SCBA's anymore, we use them for the Hurst airbags (anybody remember the old MSA steel bottles with the carrying handle on the cylinder valve? We still have some....handy to grab a bottle for extrication work with the air bags).

When we were running both types, there were two schools of thought....On the one hand, you'd want the lighter composites or aluminums on the packs, right? But when you suck down that first bottle or two, come back for a replacement, and they put on a steel bottle, after you've already been getting your butt kicked for 30-45 minutes on a working fire....man, that thing seemed to weigh twice as much.

Others were of the opinion that you should have the steel bottles on the packs for the initial attack, so when you swapped out later, you'd get a lighter bottle, and you'd really appreciate it.... :)

[Dave404]

The 70's had a wonderful airpack made by GLOBE - it was an oxygen tank....I dont think they lasted long in the market. We have 5 kicking around for sentimental reasons, I will try to take a picture for you!

[RyanEMVFD]

Anyone remember the MSA Cub? Now that brings back memories.

[CaptainGonzo]

How about the Scott Sling-pak for the company officers?

Actually...the old Scott 2A steel cylinders weren't that heavy... the air weighed more then... new technology has made the weight of air lighter! :D :p

[RFRDxplorer]

(anybody remember the old MSA steel bottles with the carrying handle on the cylinder valve? We still have some....handy to grab a bottle for extrication work with the air bags).


Yep. We used to have some in our explorer cabinet that were originally from the dept. I believe. Now since they can't be used, some guys took them home.

[Bones42]

Actually...the old Scott 2A steel cylinders weren't that heavy... the air weighed more then... new technology has made the weight of air lighter! :D :p
Ya. The old air (cylinders) alone weighed more than what a full SCBA weighs these days.

[phillipmc]

HAH! even though iv only been in the service about 4 years i remember the old steel bottles in ventelation class. Ventalating a roof with 1 of those things on your back was a tough stuff. I think we still got a few steal bottles around for the air bags.

[Fire304]

Lets see, steel bottles, wire frames with no padding, nylon straps that were 1/2 inch wide and left channels in your shoulders from where they rubbed, on-demand regulators, that horrible black rubber masks, no field of view from the easily scratched plastic lens, rubber head straps that would take clumps of hair out if you tried to ajust while wearing, elephant hose that would get pinched as you crawled cutting your air supply off, those anoying low air bells...

Am I missing anything Gonzo?

[fireman4949]

Lets see, steel bottles, wire frames with no padding, nylon straps that were 1/2 inch wide and left channels in your shoulders from where they rubbed, on-demand regulators, that horrible black rubber masks, no field of view from the easily scratched plastic lens, rubber head straps that would take clumps of hair out if you tried to ajust while wearing, elephant hose that would get pinched as you crawled cutting your air supply off, those anoying low air bells...

Am I missing anything Gonzo?

I think you left out the part about having to share the mask. What a PITA it was having to clean/disinfect it every shift! :(




Kevin :D

[HM604OH]

I think you left out the part about having to share the mask. What a PITA it was having to clean/disinfect it every shift! :(




Kevin :D

You cleaned your mask after everyshift? If we would have done that, the rest of the crew would have thought we lost our minds. I did make it a practice to crack the bypass at the beginning of each shift to clear out anything left by the previous shift.

[dmleblanc]

Lets see, steel bottles, wire frames with no padding, nylon straps that were 1/2 inch wide and left channels in your shoulders from where they rubbed, on-demand regulators, that horrible black rubber masks, no field of view from the easily scratched plastic lens, rubber head straps that would take clumps of hair out if you tried to ajust while wearing, elephant hose that would get pinched as you crawled cutting your air supply off, those anoying low air bells...



Oh, yeah....how many times when I had my shirt off at home, and my wife asked me where I got those nasty bruises on both shoulders.... :rolleyes:

[Fire304]

Did you ever do some heavy training where you had to roll on your back and the big slug of condensation/spit that had accumulated at the regulator worked its way up the elephant hose.... GACK!!!! $#&*()$@()@#_@!905....

My favorite signature in these forums, Never eat more than your mask will hold!

[len1582]

Speaking of the "elephant hose", how about being told if you run out of air to disconnect it and stick it into your coat until someone comes in to relieve you. :( Also they weren't in brackets, they were in these big ass suitcases.

[cozmosis]

You boys speak of the "elephant hose" as though it's from some long gone era. Until a FIRE Act grant in 2004, 80% of our packs were older MSA packs with the low pressure hoses.

[MontvilleFire39]

You boys speak of the "elephant hose" as though it's from some long gone era. Until a FIRE Act grant in 2004, 80% of our packs were older MSA packs with the low pressure hoses.

Amen, Cozmosis. With the exception of the jumpseats in our first out engine, all of aour packs are steel cylinder Scott's with the elephant hoses and wire frames. Man do they suck.

[pete892]

I have two "round-bell regulator" Scotts complete with the fiber cases. They have steel tanks with the straight valve. Manufactured in the 1940's. Tanks aren't hydroed but they look nice on my antique pumper.

And yes, years ago I used them to fight fire.

Stay safe,

Pete

[LaFireEducator]

Damn, sounds like the SCBA we are still using.

Our first line trucks, with the exception of 1, are using a combination of packs purchased between 5 and 15 years ago. Our service trucks, carry packs purchased about 20 years ago, but luckily those are rarely used as they are carried primary as a formality to meet rating requirements. We do have for the most part, the lighter bottles but still have some steel cylinders hanging around on the service units.

The only truck with new complaint SCBA is the Rescue.

[Fire304]

OMG, those f@#$ing suitcases, the cheap plastic hinges would fatigue out over time and fail by dropping your pack on the floor as you picked up the case. Of course the chief was always standing right near when you did it. Then some moron would put a wet dirty pack into a case and one of two things happened:
Mildew, or it would dry up and the case would be full of sand and grit, which always was picked up by the regulator (I've come to calling them dirt magnets) so your first inhale would sandblast your eyeballs! :eek: :eek: