

Object Name |
Kit, Chemical Test |
Collection |
Oil Museum of Canada Collection |
Accession number |
OMC 2018.011 |
Catalog Number |
OMC 2018.011.001 a - l |
Other Name |
Flash Point Tester |
Date |
Prior to 1895 |
Description |
The copper and brass flash point tester is stored in a custom wood box. A flash point is the temperature a liquid must be heated to in order to give off enough vapour that it can be ignited. To test this, the device is filled with the liquid and then heated and stirred. The lid is opened and a lighter is put in at regular intervals until the air above the liquid is set on fire. The flash point is important to know for storage and handling. The flash point is also a good indicator of contamination from other chemicals. a). Wood box for the flash point tester. It is a dark stained wood box with a hinged lid. The lid has a handle on the top and a key is attached to the handle by a string. Imprinted on the lid is number 169. Written on the inside of the lid- Rec'd after repairs Oct 31 95. There is a paper label on the back from Canadian Express Co. b). Copper pot with an opening on the bottom, which stands on three metal legs. There are two brass loop handles on either side of the pot. c). Copper pot which fits into pot (b). There are brass flanges in the shape of a funnel and two cylinders, one cylinder is upright and one is horizontal. There is a round opening in the center to insert cup (d,e,f). There is a 1 cm rim at the top to sit into the larger pot (b). Imprint of number 169 is on the top. d) Brass lid for the insert (f). A small raised round opening is to one side to insert a thermometer. A long section down the middle, which protrudes beyond the lid, slides out with a peg handle to reveal three rectangular openings. A bracket holds a small removable tiny pot over the slide section. It is imprinted with number 169. e). Tiny brass pot with a hinged lid and a handle that sits on a bracket on the lid (d). Imprint on the hinged lid is number 169. f). Brass cup with removable lid (d). the cup has a 1.2 cm rim 1.2 cm from the top to hold it in place in the larger pot (c). Imprinted on the rim is number 169. g). Copper pot with brass handle, "spout" and dome burner protruding from the top of the pot. The spout has a removable screw lid. Imprinted on the handle is the number 169. h, i). Brass cylinder with lid to hold a thermometer (j) The cylinder fits into holes in the brackets in a corner of the wood box (a). j). The thermometer is calibrated in Fahrenheit degrees 70 - 150. It has a brass weight 2 cm long which is attached 4 cm from the bottom of the thermometer. k, l). Brass cylinder with lid to hold a thermometer, which is broken in the tube. The cylinder fits into holes in the brackets in a corner of the wood box (a). |
Provenance |
The donor's father acquired this flash point tester when he worked at the Canada Customs office at Cobourg, Ontario in the mid 1960s. The office was going to scrap it, but his father thought it was interesting and took it home so it wouldn't be destroyed. It was likely used at the Canada Customs office to test the octane levels in petroleum products that came into the port. |
Dimensions |
H-32 W-21.2 L-21.8 inches |
Search Terms |
Apparatus Petroleum Canada Customs Flash Point Tester Scientific Instruments |