Babbitt Ingot Compositions

[Phineas Bluster]

About thirteen years ago I acquired just over fifty pounds of Babbitt in its' original ingot form. I had spent quite a bit of time, off and on, searching the internet to determine the composition of these ingots, but to no avail. The only luck I had was finding information on the Magnolia Antifriction metal.

"One of these days. I'll haul these ingots down to the junk yard and have them shot with an XRF gun.", I thought.

Well, this past Tuesday was the day. I had ten ingots shot and the results below indicate the major elements, rounded to the nearest one-half of one per cent, contained in each alloy.


MSR Co - Standard Copper Hardened Babbitt

10-5/8 X 1-3/4 X 1-1/4 - 9 lbs. 6 oz.



Pb - 55.0%
Sn - 26.0%
Sb - 14.0%
Cu - 2.0%


Jackson-Wheeler, Inc. - Brooklyn 7, N.Y.
Wheeler Process - LUBRITE - Nickel Alloy

8-3/4 X 1-11/16 X 3/4 - 4 lbs.



Pb - 81.0%
Sb - 13.5%
Sn - 4.5%


Post's ZERO Metal
ALWAYS STIR THIS METAL BEFORE POURING EACH BOX

9-1/4 X 1-3/8 X 1-1/8 - 5 lbs.



Pb - 70.5%
Sb - 21.0%
Sn - 7.0%


Frictionless (Script)
Patented - April 7, 1891 April 5, 1892 April 9,1901 (1-1/8" Dia. Circle Each End)

8-1/4 X 1-1/2 X 13/16 - 3-1/4 lbs. (Radiused Ends)



Pb - 75.5%
Sb - 17.0%
Sn - 5.5%


Frictionless (Script)
Patented - April 7, 1891 April 5, 1892 April 9,1901 (1-1/8" Dia. Circle Each End)

8-1/4 X 1-1/2 X 1-1/4 - 5-3/4 lbs. (Radiused Ends)



Pb - 79.0%
Sb - 14.0%
Sn - 4.0%


Somerville Smelting Co.

4-1/2 X 1-9/16 X 5/8 - 1-1/2 lbs.



Pb - 69.5%
Sb - 16.5%
Sn - 11.5%


MAGNOLIA ANTIFRICTION METAL

5-1/8 X 1-5/8 X 1-1/4 - 4 lbs.

Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal is a primarily lead based material but with the addition of graphite for to make it somewhat self lubricating, consisting of approximately 80% Lead (Pb), 15% Antimony (Sb) and 5% Tin (Sn), making it very similar to a ASTM B-23 Grade 8 Babbitt.
Pouring temperature for Magnolia Anti-Friction Metal is 750-825 degrees F



Pb - 76.5%
Sb - 15.5%
Sn - 5.5%


Great Western Smelting and Refining Co.
Liberty Motor
Genuine Babbitt
Chicago - St. Louis

3-1/2" Diameter - 2-1/2 lbs.



Sn - 69.5%
Sb - 14.0%
Pb - 10.5%
Cu - 5.0%


Federated Metals Division
American Smelting and Refining Company
Liberty Motor
Genuine Babbitt
Newark - St. Louis
New York - Chicago
Pittsburgh - San Francisco

3-5/8" Diameter - 3 lbs.



Sn - 64.0%
Pb - 16.5%
Sb - 14.0%
Cu - 4.0%


Mystery Metal

I don't know how this ingot found its' way onto my lead rack. It looks like a over-stuffed Sky Bar. There are no manufacturers' markings of any kind. Somebody had scratched "LEAD" onto the ingot, but seeing as how light the bar was for its' size in contrast to most lead alloys and the extreme hardness, I had my doubts. I always thought it may be a zinc alloy. But, I hung onto it and took it along for the ride on Tuesday. I'm happy I did.



Sn - 83.0%
Sb - 7.5%
Cu - 6.5%
Pb - 1.5%

PB

[rancher1913]

those are some neat bars, hopefully you dont need to melt them.

[Tom W.]

I used to get #2 nickel Babbitt from the dealer when I worked at the sawmill. No lead at all, mostly tin with a bit of copper mixed in.

Every now and then I'd find a 60 lb. ingot from Sanders Lead in the bed of my truck. I know that they were in the business of buying and reclaiming vehicle batteries. I needed the Babbitt to blend with the ingots from there. Plus I had a lot of pure lead for my muzzleloader......

[kevin c]

Very good info. Thanks for posting your findings.