Hanging-tube masks

The 19th century saw the invention of numerous smoke protectors with breathing tubes that extended almost to the ground, allowing the wearer to breathe the relatively clean layer of air beneath the rising smoke. A British man named Robertson created an early device of this type, described by Sir Robert H. Davis as follows:

[It consisted] of a leather hood which was fastened closely around the wearer's head. To the front of the hood, which was fitted with eye-pieces, was connected a short leather tube for conducting air to it. The pipe was secured to the wearer's thigh by means of straps. At the distal end of the tube was fitted a cone-piece into which was fitted a moist sponge covered with cloth, "which filtered the inspired air in its passage to the hood."

The picture below shows designs by, from left to right: Robertson; Nelson (1857); Elliot (1885); Hurd (1887); Richet (1889); and Moran (1893).

This type of device became obsolete in the early 20th century.

Refs: R.H. Davis, Breathing in Irrespirable Atmospheres (1947); U.S. patents #16863, #334360, #396161, #409428, #518822