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February 1942. Akron, Ohio. Firestone Rubber. "Conversion. Beverage containers to aviation oxygen cylinders. After shatterproof oxygen cylinders for high altitude flying have passed all tests in the metal division of a large Eastern rubber factory, hot air is blown through the cylinders to remove all trace of moisture. The cylinders are then sealed and stacked for painting." 4x5 nitrate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size.
I used to work in the special effects craft for the movie industry, and these tanks, when we could find them, made great air cannons. We'd cut a two-inch hole in one end, and weld on a half-coupling. To this would be connected a big ball-valve, with an air ram and solenoid valve rigged onto it, so we could remotely "dump" the tank instantly. Often there would be a big funnel screwed to the ball-valve's outlet, and with lightweight debris loaded into the funnel, you could safely simulate an explosion, like a mortar hit on a battlefield.
An enterprising company (Sanborn) bought a bunch of these after the war and used them to make portable air compressors. I used to own one.
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