Big hunk of copper or brass. Check it out.

Here is an interesting find, im not sure what it is but I believe it had to do with the power company since it came from a house from a retired power line worker.


The entire thing is non magnetic, yes everything, and it is very heavy.


Its got a nice green tint to it so that tells me something, and if you look at the last picture you will see where I filed into the metal a little. Purdy.


http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1126.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1133.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1132.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1129.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1127.jpg

That looks nice. What does the whole thing weigh?

Almost looks like some kind of car or truck jack, but at the same time, not really. Very interesting though. Couldn't see it being anything other then copper, because of where you filed it. But I don't see why anyone would make a jack out of copper... Crazy stuff sir, can't wait for an update!

I want to say it weighs 25 to 30 pounds, but I don't know for sure.

Can you make out any of the words or numbers on it?

I am surprised that it is non metallic, because it sure does look like metal for 90% of it.

However, I doubt it would be copper, except for one or two pieces.

If I had to guess, I say it is brass for 90% of it.

If you find out, definitely let us know, so if any of us come across this.

I a thinking all or part of a breaker for soe serious power. Something along those lines maybe.

Ok, so I got almost everything apart on this thing and guess what, its mostly copper.

The 3 pictures below are all copper pieces, I took my grinder with a sanding wheel and cleaned areas on each piece, all of them are copper.

Very interesting and I believe there is about 20 - 25 lbs of copper here.



http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1145.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1142.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1146.jpg

Now for the rest of the non copper items.


These items are non magnetic stainless, I took the grinder to it and it shot sparks off, so I know there not aluminum.
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1148.jpg


These 2 pieces are brass, when I cleaned them off they were yellow in color. Also the larger piece is slightly magnetic, not enough to make the magnet stick to it but enough to make the magnet pull to it when held.

The smaller piece is an assembly of some sort, there is a spring and a collet inside that I cant figure out how to get out. I will have to sleep on that one. Also the pipe sticking out of the top of the shorter piece is copper so I want to get it out of there. I will figure it out, the sun started to go down and its getting colder in the garage so I quit for the day.

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1153.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMAG1154.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by parrothead

I a thinking all or part of a breaker for soe serious power. Something along those lines maybe.

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I think your correct, this may be a part from a power transfer station or something, like I said, the person I got it from is a retired PP&L worker. For those who don't know, that is our power company here. I live close to the Nuclear Power plant.

I thought it was some kind of farm implement part, I originally thought it was cast iron and it almost went with the shred until I tried to stick a magnet to it. Defiantly not going in my shred pile.

I just got done weighing the copper.


The shaft with washer attached is 1lb - 7.5 oz
The Pipe is 3lbs - 13.3 oz
The washers, and other hardware are 0lbs - 14.8oz
The nuckle with shaft is 6 lbs - 3.2oz
The large frame is 18lbs - 12.8 oz

For a total of 31lbs - 3.6 oz of solid copper.

Very nice, maybe tomorrow I will weigh the brass if I can get the assembly tore apart.

Congratulations. Nice little score right there, depending on your current market prices.

Hmmm... Seems these things are hard to find... Only thing i've found on it is this:

http://www.monsterfuses.com/fuses/R&IE%20Equipment/

It's a big page with no pictures. It's all jibberish to me, but might help others. If you check out that site, there is only one listing of R&IE. Use the 'find' function(Ctrl F) on your browser an type in R&IE.

Edit: By the way, love the smiley on your table lol!

It's a retired distribution system switch. Looks fused!

Looks like money to me. Lol

Very nice find dude. Busbar sounds like a country near Casablanca !

Reminds me somewhat of the electric chair switch.

And here I thought it was an antique hydraulic door closer for caves during the caveman age.... LMAO Great Find!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dumpster-Dee

Very nice find dude. Busbar sounds like a country near Casablanca !

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"Rock the Busbar, Rock the Busbar"

..sing along everybody!

I know what it is. Its the main switch to turn on a substation. It looks like its missing a piece though. The next time you drive by an industrial plant or substation find the largest transformer in the group and look directly above it and you will see three of these pieces above it with a a power line coming in directly from the street or nearest pole. The power company has a large pole that hooks directly into the one end of the line pushing up will connect the two rods together and boom you have power to the transformer. Pushing down will disconnect the power and disconnect the rods which will de energize the transformer. Just think that at one time that piece had thousands of volts running through it.

CMHN,
Congratulations on that find, what a piece eh?
I personaly have no idea what it was {you have now found out}
Oh but what a find mate well done

Be Lucky

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Reminds me somewhat of the electric chair switch.

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i hope you dont have personal experience with this, but i'd rather not ask

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Filthy

i hope you dont have personal experience with this, but i'd rather not ask

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haha no. Just what I have seen in the movies. The movies are real, right? :P


I see I should have said "an" instead of "the".

I maybe late on this...but this maybe worth more than scrap...I would clean it up and make it look like new with some sanding and try to sell on ebay

maybe not clean and sell dirt looking on ebay?

I can see someone buying it for wall art or something.

Old items from power companies have a good resell to them when cleaned up.

I thought about that Easy, unfortunately I'm at the point of no return on it, I cut the large frame up into more manageable pieces. I did however give it a vinegar/salt bath and to clean all the oxidation off of it, I will get a little more at the scrap yard now.

There is always next time. :)