Here is the response from my friend Justing to my email about your unidentified object:
>>I've looked at the part and I can't really say that I know what it is. I do however agree that it looks like a part of a press. The impression segment of my Davisons is copper clad.
In case you haven't found this yet, the composition of type metal depended on the kind of type to be cast. Stereotype and linotype metal had a melting point of 196 degrees F and was made of 2 parts lead, 3 parts tin and 5 parts bismuth.
For regular type 75% lead and 25% antimony was often used but a formula of 90% tin, 6% lead and 4% copper was also known for some purposes. The English usually used 69.2% lead, 19.5% antimony, 9.1% tin and 1.2% copper while the
French cast their type from 55% lead 30% antimony and 15% tin. This is from Henley's Formulas, Processes and Trade Secrets, Prof. T. O'Conor Sloane, A.B., A.M., E.M., PhD. (Henley, New York, 1945). Sloane was the second editor of the first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories.
Best,
Justin<< |
