<P> Ansul Met - L-X cartridge - operated dry powder fire extinguisher for class D fires, 1950s . </P> <P> The first fire extinguisher of which there is any record was patented in England in 1723 by Ambrose Godfrey, a celebrated chemist at that time . It consisted of a cask of fire - extinguishing liquid containing a pewter chamber of gunpowder . This was connected with a system of fuses which were ignited, exploding the gunpowder and scattering the solution . This device was probably used to a limited extent, as Bradley's Weekly Messenger for November 7, 1729, refers to its efficiency in stopping a fire in London . </P> <P> The modern dry powder fire extinguisher was invented by British Captain George William Manby in 1818; it consisted of a copper vessel of 3 gallons (13.6 liters) of pearl ash (potassium carbonate) solution contained within compressed air . </P> <P> The soda - acid extinguisher was first patented in 1866 by Francois Carlier of France, which mixed a solution of water and sodium bicarbonate with tartaric acid, producing the propellant CO gas . A soda - acid extinguisher was patented in the U.S. in 1881 by Almon M. Granger . His extinguisher used the reaction between sodium bicarbonate solution and sulfuric acid to expel pressurized water onto a fire . A vial of concentrated sulfuric acid was suspended in the cylinder . Depending on the type of extinguisher, the vial of acid could be broken in one of two ways . One used a plunger to break the acid vial, while the second released a lead stopple that held the vial closed . Once the acid was mixed with the bicarbonate solution, carbon dioxide gas was expelled and thereby pressurized the water . The pressurized water was forced from the canister through a nozzle or short length of hose . </P>

Who invented the first hand held fire extinguisher