Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 2016 > 2016.03.06 > 04Prev  Next


Lead Tubing in Player Pianos
By Bill Finch

John A Tuttle wrote, "The 'dust' I've encountered has always been
either white or white with a slightly greenish or bluish tint."

When lead is cut with a knife, the fresh surface is very slightly blue
in color.  When exposed to normal atmospheric air, that surface quickly
combines with atmospheric carbon dioxide to form lead carbonate, which
is white.  This compound was used as the pigment for white paint since
the times of ancient Greece.  Lead in alternate oxidation states can be
red or yellow.

Many, many years ago in an undergraduate analytical chemistry lab we
did determine that the white powder that had accumulated on an old lead
pipe was in fact partially hydrated lead carbonate.

Bill Finch


(Message sent Sun 6 Mar 2016, 18:13:57 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Lead, Pianos, Player, Tubing

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page