It sounds a bit like a telecommunication power source. Gerhard On Mon, 10 Jun 1996, TQV wrote: > To all those industrial historians out there, I hope that you can help me. > > I have two batteries with glass cells. Each battery has six cells (12 > volt?).They measure approximately 20" long by 12" wide by 12" high. I would > guess they are easily 45-50 lbs each. The glass cells say 'Exide' on the > sides and lids. Each battery is in a wooden frame with handles. The bottom > of the frames have all but rotted away. Our hazardous materials people are > removing the acidic residues which are still inside the cells. In so doing, > the guts of each cell is being removed and in most cases a wooden buffer > between the electrodes is disintigrating. Not much can be done about this. > All in all though they're in pretty good shape. > > I want to know anything and everything I can learn about these peices. They > have recently been uncovered in the bowels of the University's underground > catacombs. Areas where steam and power were connected to the buildings > throughout campus. They're so old, that there is no oral history to go along > with them. Thus my dilema. > > Are they rare? > What period do they date to? (I'm guessing turn of the century?) > What were they commonly used for? (besides the obvious) > Does anyone else have some? > Does anyone want one? (I'm considering only one for the collection, > therefore the other one will probably need a good home.) > > References? Citations? > > TIA to all respondents. > > Terry Vidal ([log in to unmask]) (http://www.uni.edu/vidal) > Collections Manager > University of Northern Iowa Museum (http://www.uni.edu/museum) >