How it used to be done!

[Darkwood]

Here is a pic of a relay from a Grinder/Lathe which is 80+ yrs old, still operating as good as the day it was made.
Note the glass enveloped mercury switching contacts.
PS the lamp at the bottom is just a spare for use elsewhere on the machine.

 

[westward10]

I have a lovely brass socket somewhere with a mercury filled tube for the switch somewhere.

 

[westward10]

I also have, "somewhere" again a small glass bottle with a cork in it filled with oil which came with Allen West starters to fill the overload pots. Later ones came with oil in sachets.

 

[HandySparks]

Mercury contacts were also common in room thermostats a few years ago.

Interesting to see ceramic beads used to insulate the flexible cables.

 

[Darkwood]

I got a lot of mercury glass envelopes from stripping out old fire alarm systems, it was a very common method across the board but most melenials will probably never come across them now.

 

[Rpa07]

I’ve got one from a portable heater from the 80’s. Every now and again I handle it - feels great in the hand. There’s a link to drilled aluminium with a bead of ‘quick silver’ - take a look

 

[Darkwood]

Been the science geek I am I have seen that vid' a few times, just to add the use of mercury was banned in many countries, the EU starting imposing bans in about 2009 and is linked to the fact it is a neurotoxin, the liquid blobs out of equipment like above still should be handled with caution as they can and do react with skin even if your not aware, it can be disposed of through the correct channels safely.
The issue with mercury poisoning is its mostly from other sources not yet effected by the ban and gets into the food chain, typically fish, one of the biggest polluters of mercury in the world is burning coal as this releases it into the atmosphere that eventually gets into the water system and the food chain.... treat it with a lot of respect

 

[Rpa07]

The fact I still have my mercury tilt switch is probably to do with the vision of arriving at the recycling centre and getting treated like a leper! Until then it’ll remain in my safe place and come out for sporadic handling!

 

[telectrix]

Been the science geek I am I have seen that vid' a few times, just to add the use of mercury was banned in many countries, the EU starting imposing bans in about 2009 and is linked to the fact it is a neurotoxin, the liquid blobs out of equipment like above still should be handled with caution as they can and do react with skin even if your not aware, it can be disposed of through the correct channels safely.
The issue with mercury poisoning is its mostly from other sources not yet effected by the ban and gets into the food chain, typically fish, one of the biggest polluters of mercury in the world is burning coal as this releases it into the atmosphere that eventually gets into the water system and the food chain.... treat it with a lot of respect

well, i don'teat fish, so that's no bother to me.

 

[static zap]

Strange how that line from my parents , Fish is a brain food ...
Now Neurotoxin ...
Was it mostly the tinned -oily stuff ?
I enjoy the odd bit of fish , but only go wild when get near the coast!
( Imagine cost of cleaning up Coal/Coke cannot of helped Brit-Steel)