vintage computers and lead poisoning?

From: Joe R. <rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com>
Date: Sun Jun 6 08:29:21 2004

At 09:10 PM 6/5/04 -0700, you wrote:
>> > When copper tubing is used, what is it soldered with?
>
>> today: Tin 99+% Previously: Why do you think they called it
>> "soldering"? The fortunate thing is that virtually all of it is IN the
>> joint and very little is exposed to the water.
>....
>> This day and age... silver solder.
>....
>> I stand myself corrected. 95% tin, 5% copper.
>....
>> In the UK, pipes for drinking water now have to be soldered with
>> lead-free solder. I am not sure (a) how much a problem leaded solder was
>> and (b) if the lead-free stuff is actually any safer...
>
>When was the "changeover"?
>Parts of my house are a hundred years old, and I'm sure
>that I'm not the only one who does not live in a
>little box on the hillside made of ticky-tacky.
>
>
>> > In addition, most of the public say "lead pipe" when talking about
>> > galvanized iron.
>
>> I can assure you the stuff we have over here is lead, or at least a
>> high-lead-containing alloy. It melts at far too low a temperature to be
>> iron, and it has a density similar to that of lead.
>
>I'm certainly not questioning the existence of lead pipe -
>I replaced some in my house with iron pipe.
>But it's less common now than it used to be, and I've run
>into more than a few extraordinarily ignorant people who
>will point to a piece of galvanized pipe and [INCORRECTLY]
>call it "lead pipe" (including staff at Home Depot!)
>
>
>About thirty years ago, Seattle found out that there were
>still bamboo pipes in active use!

  The military base/prison at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas still has parts of
their original wooden water pipe in use. IIRC the fort was originally built
in the 1830s. I'm not sure when the pipe was installed but it was certainly
before the War of Northern Agression (aka the Civil War to less literate of
you). I believe that there are number of cities that still have parts of
their original wooden water pipes in use including London UK.

    Joe
Received on Sun Jun 06 2004 - 08:29:21 BST