Flash bar and Agfa Flashlight Powder

Hi Folks,

Today I got a call from someone, offering me a whole bits and pieces that they wanted to get rid of. In the box I found a flash bar and a partially full bottle of Agfa Flashlight powder.

While very cool, I am concerned what the powder is and whether it is dangerous. Can anyone fill me in?

Cheers!

I found a reference in one of my old books, Handbook of Photography by Henney and Dudley, 1939

"Flash-light powders usually consist of a mixture of magnesium powder and an oxidizing material like potassium chlorate. Since these mixtures oxidize rapidly with almost explosive violence, they must be handled with care. They may be ignited by means of an open flame, a fuse, or an electrically heated wire."

The magnesium powder is dangerous in that it burns with great heat, and ignites relatively easy compared to many metals, but otherwise is probably not particularly more dangerous than a magnesium machine part.

I have no idea about the potassium chlorate though.

As a first step, I'd probably seal the whole bottle in a plastic bag so as to exclude air and moisture, though from the looks of the cork, it's probably had plenty of exposure to air and humidity for a few decades.

I hope this helps.

Very cool; VERY. But I'd probably treat it like black powder for guns - an explosive that any spark could ignite. Dumping the powder and displaying the empty container may be the prudent thing to do. VERY COOL.

Hmmm, yeah. I have googled properly disposing flash powder, which in my area means contacting the police. I am sure the bottle won't be returned.

EDIT: Found the following information here - http://www.archive.org/stream/agfabookofphotog00barrrich/agfabookofphotog00barrrich_djvu.txt

Flashlight
Powder.



(Called "Adfa"-Blitzlicht)

"Agfa"-Blitzlicht is a scientific
combination of chemicals of a dif-
ferent composition than the usual
Magnesium and Potassium Chlo-
rate mixture and possess the follow-
ing undisputed advantages:

1. Minimum smoke development.

2. Maximum amount of light.

3. The most rapid flash.

4. Silent discharge.

5. No danger of explosion.

6. Convenient packing.

7. Economy in use.

The claims we make on behalf of the small smoke devel-
opment are that the "Agfa"-Flashlight Powder gives only one-
tenth of the smoke produced by the usual magnesium and po-
tassium chlorate mixture. Besides which, owing to the greater
light development, "Agfa"-Flashlight only needs to be used in
small quantities which, apart from economy, is a potential
factor in the reduction of the smoke nuisance. What little
smoke there is is a bluish transparent film which quickly rolls
off and disappears. The great lighting power makes the
"Agfa"-Flashlight very economical; the intensity and actinic
power is three times as great as any other preparation used in
the same proportions.

I found this at the link you posted, "The complete book of flash powder", which has some guidelines for handling, etc.;
https://archive.org/details/The_Complete_Book_of_Flash_Powder

FWIW, my book does state that aluminum powder is sometimes used. From your link it seems that your Agfa product may not be magnesium and potassium chlorate. The complete book of flash powder appears to have a whole chapter on ingredients though.

Do you know anyone interested in model rocketry?

Yes, "Properly disposing" via the police will probably mean the bottle will disappear. I'd dig a hole, pour it in, fill with water and fill in the hole.

My understanding of the generic "proper disposal " guidance is to protect against bad choices like burning that could cause harm to the fool holding the match.... Or using to make homemade fireworks, etc.

magnesium + water seems like a bad idea.

Burning Magnesium will split Water, the resuluting Hydrogen gas is the cause for the explosion.

I think the formula for disaster is a bit more complex than "magnesium + water". It is magnesium + match + water = disaster.

At room temp there is no such hazard.

But interesting thought that video provokes: what was it like to use a flash bar and flash poster in the rain?????