A Scrapper's Dream: electrical and non-ferrous

This thread was started for those of us that lack knowledge of e-scrapping, but come across some unusual finds on the farm or in building clean outs. It is pure laziness that motivates the creation of this thread. It is known that we should research previous threads for information before posting a question, but time does not allow it in this case. If you want to cuss me for my lack of research efforts in this regard, so be it. If you have knowledge and a willingness to share, that would be appreciated. If you want to add other questions or insights, that is welcomed as well.

So first question, can anyone tell me what this is? What was it used for and what parts are valuable?

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1e33bb06.jpg

Sorry for the quality of the picture. We do not have electricity in the building and this picture was taken using two pen lights. Have you ever taken a picture holding the camera with your hands, a flashlight in your mouth, and another flashlight held between your knees?

Are there any panels on it? Any type of screen? Light bank? What about a graph, chart type thing?(either circular or cylindrical) The top looks like an old phone bank but I'm more inclined to believe it's something to do with stats of operations, the wires each running to tattletale switches, gauges too maybe, throughout the plant


I lightened it up a bit but it's still fuzzy. I believe it's some type of control panel

imgbox - fast, simple image host

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Originally Posted by Bear

Was there no panels on it? Any type of screen? What about a graph, chart type thing?(either circular or cylindrical) The top looks like an old phone bank but I'm more inclined to believe it's something to do with stats of operations, the wires each running to tattletale switches throughout the building

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This is all that is left. No other evidence we can see with flashlights.

Can you get it out in one piece? Is it one large unit or a bunch of pieces? How is it mounted?


PS you need a camera ; ) I did a thread once titled Photography 101 that might give you some pointers

The top things look like resistor coils. The rest of the items with capacitors on them may be older versions of instrument "transmitters" or "receivers" --I'm not sure of the correct terms--but they would either send signals out to remote control valves or receive signals back from temperature probes, pressure sensors or the like. Usually used low voltage, (24V) and a 4-20 milliamp signal for controls.

I'm buffaloed why the heavy resistor coils would be in the same box with the transmitter stuff. Usually the resistors would be with some power devices, for example, for braking on heavy electric motors.

Any chance of more photos? Is there any sort of nameplate on the panel doors or inside the cabinet doors that might name the cabinet, giving a clue as to its use?

Better get you a headlamp to put on your hard hat!! Way better than holding a light in your hand!!

Jon.

Bear, your thread on photography is well remembered. I am always reluctant to post pictures because of that thread, LOL. Maybe when I retire I will concentrate on photography. Until then it is point and shoot with the camera and the gun.

Saw, a headlamp was available. Just forgot I was wearing it. Anyways a headlamp would not be as fun with three stories of exposure as holding a flashlight with your knees. And FYI I have not worn a hard hat for over thirty years, still wearing my cowboy hat. That will end soon.

Some good decent head lamps out there to go with your cowboy hat....Used to use one when I was working for Amazon(dark in the campground!)LED..was like..10 bucks if that at walmart. Worked awesomely for several years, till I forgot where i put it, an when I found it, it was a in a flooded box. :(

Good for just taking photos, if the other is overkill. Sure their even cheaper these days. Or if ya got a smart phone, the flashlight app, strong but will kill a battery.

Yea, nothing earth shattering..just thoughts. Use at your peril.

Sirscrapalot - Character is power. - Booker T. Washington

Shooting in the dark, here (heh heh!)
The white blocks at the top look like 66 Blocks. Those are telephone or data termination blocks.
The items below that look like individual power supplies. Possibly part of an old telephone system or industrial control.
If you can get some better pictures.... you know the rest.

I think those top things are telephone equipment like mentioned. I've taken a few apart. Take the back/bottom lid off and hit all the grey tabs out from the front. They'll look like aluminum, but are copper with some kind of coating. Went as #2 copper.

Looks to me like some type of old telephone termination equipment.

Are there 2 wires twisted together making a "jumper" from left to right at the top of the photo? If so, then you have found the "cross connect" of the old telephone switching equipment. Typically, at a telephone company switching equipment location, the "cross connect" is called a Main Distribution Frame (MDF). The outside cables would terminate on the vertical side and the switching equipment would terminate on the horizontal side. Jumpers are run to connect a person's phone cable to the switching equipment.

If this is an old key system (internal telephone system), the cables running to each desk phone would terminate one place and the switching equipment would terminate on other blocks. Jumpers would be run to "cross connect" the internal cable runs to the switching equipment.

The bottom of the picture could some old mechanical switching equipment; can't tell from the photo.

Looks Telephone to me too but way to grainy to tell. If you can take closer pics that would help too.

Eric

Everyone has motivated me to be a better photographer with a better camera, light, etc. Never had this problem scrapping farms. So much to learn, so little time. Thank you.

Most any point and shoot will be ok Patriot. An Optical zoom is a key ingredient. Using a photo editor can be almost as much help as the camera itself. I'd be happy to answer any questions on any of it, although I'm not a professional photographer, I've picked up a few things along the way

Try to up the exposure a bit on your camera (if you can). I'm sure that'll help a good bit.

I humbly rest on my laurels

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Originally Posted by spinroch

I humbly rest on my laurels

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Your laurels equate to insight in my book. Good choice for an avatar. The best I could do is a smashed beer can. :)

Hope he remember's his buddy in the purple bag, if he's ever near my sandbar.

An stop taking photos after drinking Patriot! It' does make them less blurry. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Has a collection of Crown bags.

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Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

Hope he remember's his buddy in the purple bag, if he's ever near my sandbar.

An stop taking photos after drinking Patriot! It' does make them less blurry. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Has a collection of Crown bags.

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Guilty as charged. The camera is going in for intervention treatment on Monday. Thanks for the heads up. And as far as the purple bags, we use them to store our fishing reels in. It is embarrassing to say my purple bags cannot keep up with my fishing reels. I think I will drink to that.

I'll have one for you also sir.

Sure Spin is just proud of himself now. He better have two for each of us. ;)

Sirscrapalot - Can't corrupt those that are already corrupted. :( - Unknown, but the frowny face is mine.

Just an update. We have miles and miles of brass pipe and copper wire. We have already removed two transformer stations with three transformers each. Ferrous metal removed equals about 55 tons.