A historic piece of fire equipment equipped with large copper tanks containing water, sodium bicarbonate, and a vial of sulfuric acid. When the acid was released into the soda water, the resulting carbon dioxide gas pressurized the tank, forcing the liquid out through a hose. These units provided immediate pressure before motorized pumps became reliable.
Heard on the job
The museum just restored a horse-drawn chemical engine from the early days of the department.
Also heard as
- soda-acid engine