- #1
Equipment Identification please.
- Thread starter robincaz
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- Equipment Identification
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around identifying a piece of equipment described by a participant. The item in question is a copper apparatus with specific features, and participants explore various hypotheses regarding its purpose and design. The scope includes exploratory reasoning and technical identification.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant, Caroline, describes the item and suggests it may be related to "Hope's."
- Another participant questions what "Hope's" refers to and proposes that the item may be functional rather than laboratory equipment, suggesting it could be a prototype or a one-off item.
- Some participants speculate that the item could be a still, referencing a similar design found on eBay.
- There is a suggestion that the item has aspects of both a Hope's apparatus and a still, with inquiries about the number of chambers and any additional pipes.
- One participant asserts that it is simply a piece of copper scrap, while another humorously suggests it could be a "Flux Capacitor."
- Another participant disagrees with the still hypothesis, proposing it might be a calorimeter instead, possibly a flow-controlled calorimeter.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the identity and function of the item. No consensus is reached, as opinions vary widely from it being a still to a calorimeter or simply scrap copper.
Contextual Notes
Participants mention various features and potential uses of the equipment, but there are unresolved questions about its design and purpose, including the attachment geometry of the inner tube and the presence of any additional components.
- #2
Baluncore
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What is “Hope's” ?
Copper with solder seams showing suggests it is functional rather than laboratory equipment which would be polished brass. Maybe an outer case and some insulation has been removed.
It looks like a “one off” or prototype item, the solder spread suggests an apprentice.
The spout seems to have been used for a hose attachment, probably to partially drain it.
Do you have the lid upside down. Does the chimney align / mate with the inner tube?
The rolled bead on the upper edges of the main body and chimney suggest removal of sharp edges which implies human contact when being used. It could be part of high voltage or VHF cavity resonator. But I would have expected a greater radius of curvature than the simple bead shown.
Part of a water heater or a “Bain Marie” for some process carried out in the central tube, like calibrating thermometers ?
Without some idea of the inner tube attachment geometry I can make no more deductions, only guess.
Are there any wires attached ?
Is the central vertical line at the very top of the picture in the background ?
It looks like scrap copper, or an interesting puzzle, depending on the space you have available to store it.
Copper with solder seams showing suggests it is functional rather than laboratory equipment which would be polished brass. Maybe an outer case and some insulation has been removed.
It looks like a “one off” or prototype item, the solder spread suggests an apprentice.
The spout seems to have been used for a hose attachment, probably to partially drain it.
Do you have the lid upside down. Does the chimney align / mate with the inner tube?
The rolled bead on the upper edges of the main body and chimney suggest removal of sharp edges which implies human contact when being used. It could be part of high voltage or VHF cavity resonator. But I would have expected a greater radius of curvature than the simple bead shown.
Part of a water heater or a “Bain Marie” for some process carried out in the central tube, like calibrating thermometers ?
Without some idea of the inner tube attachment geometry I can make no more deductions, only guess.
Are there any wires attached ?
Is the central vertical line at the very top of the picture in the background ?
It looks like scrap copper, or an interesting puzzle, depending on the space you have available to store it.
- #3
jedishrfu
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i think its a still.
from ebay something similar to its design:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/copper-stills-moonshine-alcohol-distiller-whiskey-still-/170925149149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cbeecbdd
from ebay something similar to its design:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/copper-stills-moonshine-alcohol-distiller-whiskey-still-/170925149149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cbeecbdd
- #4
sophiecentaur
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Are there any more inlet / outlet pipes?
It has aspects both of a Hope's apparatus and a form of still.
How many separate chambers are there, inside it? That ebay picture looks similar - you are, perhaps, just missing the condenser bit.
You could ask your local customs officer, perhaps?
It has aspects both of a Hope's apparatus and a form of still.
How many separate chambers are there, inside it? That ebay picture looks similar - you are, perhaps, just missing the condenser bit.
You could ask your local customs officer, perhaps?
- #5
AJ Bentley
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I can identify this precisely, I've seen countless examples.
It's a piece of copper scrap
It's a piece of copper scrap
- #6
sophiecentaur
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AJ Bentley said:
Oh Man. Where's your romance? You could at least allow it to be a Flux Capacitor.
Remember, someone lovingly crafted it - even if the soldering's not that well done.
- #7
AJ Bentley
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Well...
It doesn't look like a still to me. Pot stills are usually simple tubs with a feed to a condenser on top. A drain would be rare and would have to be right at the bottom to be of use.
Fractionating stills are much more complicated but this doesn't look like that either.
Maybe some sort of calorimeter? The lip might have supported insulation for the upper section. In which case, we have some sort of flow-controlled calorimeter.
OK - I'll agree with sophiecentaur, Probably a Flux-Calorimeter.
It doesn't look like a still to me. Pot stills are usually simple tubs with a feed to a condenser on top. A drain would be rare and would have to be right at the bottom to be of use.
Fractionating stills are much more complicated but this doesn't look like that either.
Maybe some sort of calorimeter? The lip might have supported insulation for the upper section. In which case, we have some sort of flow-controlled calorimeter.
OK - I'll agree with sophiecentaur, Probably a Flux-Calorimeter.
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