Lead?? ingot What is it

[steeler61054]

Hello
New to casting and I am trying to cast some muzzleloader ball. I have about 300#s of roofing lead I have been using with some success and think I should be OK after my learning curve. Had to learn the difference between a smelting pot and a casting pot :(
the hard way.
My question is: I have a lead ingot that weights 50+#s. The top is marked IMPERIAL and the bottom has something like ELECTRO stamped in it. On both ends there are holes that appear to be for handling. It seems to be a lot harder then the roofing lead.
This bar came out of a printing plant in the 60's. I would like to say its linotype but I would be just guessing. I would like to sell or trade it but hate to tell someone I have something I don't. Anyone have an ideal or suggestion.
Thanks

[canyon-ghost]

Put up a picture, guys that dealt with different types of lead can tell by looks sometimes.

[D Crockett]

take a hammer and hit it if it rings like a church bell it is hard lead. now if it does ring I will trade you some soft lead for it or if you shoot a 50 or 58 cal black powder I will cast you some bullets for it give me a pm and lets work out the details D Crockett

[lwknight]

It helps a lot to have your location in your info so anyone that might be interested in a trade would know if you are close enough to consider a meet and greet.

[Toymaker]

No clue. A picture or two would be helpful. I can't find any reference to Imperial or Eliciro as far as a US lead smelter. Since it came out of a printing plant and the larger printing plants tended to cast their own linotype, I'd guess that's what it is also. Can you do a hardness test or know someone who can do one for you? Try to carefully monitor the melting point? At any rate, if it seems harder than your roofing lead DON'T use it for muzzle loader round balls.

[steeler61054]

No clue. A picture or two would be helpful. I can't find any reference to Imperial or Eliciro as far as a US lead smelter. Since it came out of a printing plant and the larger printing plants tended to cast their own linotype, I'd guess that's what it is also. Can you do a hardness test or know someone who can do one for you? Try to carefully monitor the melting point? At any rate, if it seems harder than your roofing lead DON'T use it for muzzle loader round balls.

I will try to post some pics. It is for sure harder then lead. If I try to scratch it with my finger nail I can just make a mark on it if I press real hard. Sorry I'm not much help.
Thanks

[rsrocket1]

Take a look at the posts showing how to use drafting pencils for estimating lead hardness. I got a set at Walmart for $7 and it is pretty good. I can tell when lead is close enough to dead soft all the way up to very hard lead suitable for rifle shooting.

[steeler61054]

<a href="http://s647.photobucket.com/user/steeler61054/media/100_0082.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/steeler61054/100_0082.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_0082.jpg"/></a>

[rsrocket1]

There, did it for you:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/steeler61054/100_0082.jpg

Now you can just send me some of that roofing lead and we'll call it even :)