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RustyFN
08-06-2011, 05:57 PM
I took the MIL's Grandmother clock to the jewelers today so it could be cleaned and given the once over. While I was there he pulled two lead bars out of the bottom and gave them to me. He said he didn't know what they were there for but he sure didn't need them. The two lead bars were taped together so you couldn't read anything. When I got home and cut the tape I opened them up and on the bottom it said "Bell System Wiring Solder". Anybody have any idea what this is. Each bar weighs around five pounds and I haven't had a chance to run them through the hardness tester yet.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d627b3127ccefd99a7e1483200000030O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d627b3127ccefd98156268a400000030O00DZOGblm4Yg9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Bret4207
08-06-2011, 06:10 PM
Solder used to seal the joints of the old cast pipe. Being Bell I would imagine it's for underground phone lines. Used to be lots of Ma Bells stuff floating around.

It's probably common 50/50 solder

Finster101
08-06-2011, 06:11 PM
I would be willing to bet they were being used as ballast to help steady the clock. I also would replace them when the clock is returned. That weight at the bottom helps keep things steady, especially if there are kids or pets in the house.

floodgate
08-06-2011, 06:17 PM
Rusty:

That's WIPING - not "wiring" - solder, and is one of the mixes - typically around 20% tin - which gives it a long "slush" range for making "wiped" solder joints in brass or copper piping. Mix 1:1 with pure lead or wheelweights to get a good hard alloy.

floodgate

winelover
08-06-2011, 06:21 PM
Typical wiping solder is in the 60 / 40 range or there abouts. That's 60% lead, 40% tin.

Winelover

RustyFN
08-06-2011, 08:09 PM
Thanks everybody.

dnotarianni
08-06-2011, 08:22 PM
Might be worth more to an antique dealer than the lead value.
Dave

Bloodman14
08-06-2011, 08:31 PM
Don't be tellin' him that!!:kidding:

crabo
08-07-2011, 12:47 AM
I think I could find some zinc for ballast and use that for casting.

Hardcast416taylor
08-07-2011, 10:56 AM
I agree with replacing it weight for weight with some other weight when the clock comes home if you are going to use this solder for casting. Clocks are strange animals that sometimes require weight in odd locations to run correctly.Robert