Pyrene Fire Extinguisher

Jon Skagfeld · #1 28-02-05, 15:20

I've recently gotten one of the above to be mounted atop the doghouse in my 15 cwt CMP.

Since this item is in rather poor shape; cosmetically, can any one assist in suggesting a proven method of restoring this to something like its original brass finish.

I've contacted the manufacturer but, since the company has been bought out, all old files were destroyed. I've tested a small part using Brasso...no luck. I've also tried CLR and Fantastik...no luck.

It's been suggested that I take it to a bumper plating company who apparently can dip the unit into a cleansing bath then dip, or by some other method, coat it with a bright brass finish.

Any assistance much appreciated.

:

Pete Ashby · #2 28-02-05, 18:59

Jon

Use Coke, get a plastic box lunch box, put the extingher in pour on the coke fit the lid and put away for a couple of months.

Bring it out every couple of weeks and give it a rub with some fine wire wool and then put it back in. After a couple of months wash it off use fine wire wool and Brass.

I'm assuming you have the puma Canadian version in which case you will need to restore the front panel, it works like this.

Go to a good quality art shop and buy a fine tipped water proof black felt pen, don't use the usual cheap ones they won’t have the depth of colour.

Take the pen and fill in all the bits that are supposed to be black.

Now take some 800 grit paper fold it flat once so you have a piece about 1/2" square rub over the raised lettering to sharpen up the edges.
Jobs done, this works on data plates as well by the way.

Pete

Jon Skagfeld · #3 28-02-05, 20:27

Well, well, well...Coke, it's the real thing!

OK, I've got a couple of months before we get on the road so I'll try your method.

Many thanks for the info.

rob love · #4 28-02-05, 23:22

If you are trying to get the gloss back in the brass, you can use a buffing wheel on a bench grinder along with jeweller's rouge. These are both available at Princess auto. The data plate on the front can be de-soldered before the buffing takes place.
I have several of the DND ARMY marked extinguishers in about 3 or 4 variations of markings, and have had to play mix and match with civilian versions of the same extinguishers in order to get good bodies(or to tap out some dents) onto the ARMY embossed tops, . I have also seen a few of these completely painted over in Khaki, so this could be done too, and you wouldn't have to really restore anything. Soldiers didn't really care much about data plates (cause they already know everything) and would not neccessarily take care not to paint over the plate either.

Tony Smith · #5 01-03-05, 01:34

If you don't want gleaming polished brass but prefer a natural , unpolished finish like new, it can be soaked in AVTUR (I'm sure have some of that lying about!) which will take the tarnish off brass but not polish it. A much slower but similar result can be acheived with kerosene (might need to soak, scrub, soak, scrub,etc). Tarnishing can be reversed, but if the brass has patches of corrosion (ie, been de-Zincified), when cleaned these will be a copper colour.

chris vickery · #6 01-03-05, 02:45

Jon, I have seen NOS ones right from pyrene with decal affixed instead of brass data plate

Jon Skagfeld · #7 01-03-05, 04:57

Chris:

Yes, that's what I have, however the decal is somewhat larger than the 3'' x 5" space available for it. I've contacted Brian
Asbury (from whom I got it) to see if a proper sized decal is available.

So, I'll be trying Coke, buffing wheel with Brasso, Tony Smith's suggestion, or getting it dipped and plated.

I have to say that I really appreciate all the feed back. Thanks, guys.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #8 01-03-05, 05:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Skagfeld
So, I'll be trying Coke, buffing wheel with Brasso, Tony Smith's suggestion, or getting it dipped and plated.

It's not like you have anything else to do other than shovelling snow and drinking the Legion dry...

Maurice Donckers · #9 01-03-05, 07:45

Wy polish , most WD ones were painted brown , I have several still in their original coulor, the text is a decal .
Civillian ones were usually pollished .
The ones wich are in the Canadian brown coulor are from as early as 1940 till 1944.It Is actually logic that they didn`t like sun reflecting Pyrene`s in their vehicles .
maurice

Jon Skagfeld · #10 01-03-05, 14:58

Maurice:

Very good point.

I may have to do some re-thinking here.

It looks like, indeed, the item has been overpainted a brown colour.

Dave Page · #11 02-03-05, 16:24

Hi, I have a war dated (stamped in the handle) extinguisher and it is painted earth brown directly over the brass. A water transfer label is atop this. As has been pointed out, you would - not - want a reflection to give your location away. Besides, people like crows and magpies, steal shiny things.
A Clean item with it's original patina/finish looks better than a "restored"one.
Cheers,
Dave

Neil Ashley · #12 04-03-05, 18:20

Gentlemen

Are we talking about the British or American/Canadian pattern of Fire Extinguisher here.

Early photographs of CMP vehicles always show the British pattern fitted, but from late 43 a change over to the American pattern seems to have taken place. I currently have these in my Mk11* Carrier.

Can some one confirm this and if the Canadian models are marked in a different way to the standard jeep pattern.

Jon Skagfeld · #13 04-03-05, 19:40

The Pyrene extinguisher referred to in the start of this thread is 10" dia, 14" OAL (incl plunger).

Looks the same as shown in a pic somewhere on this Forum (Carrier Section, probably), where the focus of attention was on a 2" mortar fitting, but two of these types of extinguisher can be seen in the co-driver's compartment.

Neil Ashley · #14 07-03-05, 18:32

Jon

thank you for the information.

Interestingly in the photograph you refer to (posted by 'Waycool' on the .50 cal armed carriers thread) you have a British pattern extinguisher in an american pattern bracket.

I had always assumed that when Canadian production went over to this pattern that they also adopted the american style of extinguisher. I have certainly seen enough of these on Canadian vehicles over the years, but when they were added I cannot comment on.

Can anyone out there comment on the correct pattern of bracket and extinguisher for late war canadian vehicles.