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Old Brass Scoop Shovel

Why brass??

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davefr

06-03-2002 14:47:41




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I picked up a real old scoop shovel in a junk store with a solid brass scoop blade. I know it's old because the way the "D" handle is shaped. It's liked they steam bent the wood to form it.

I've been trying to theorize why the big scoop part was brass. Here are my theories:

1. They needed a scoop that wouldn't throw off a spark when used on a concrete floor and chose to use brass. (such as for a saw dust or coal plant)

2. They wanted a scoop shovel to be lighter than steel and didn't know much about using aluminum.

3. They couldn't stamp steel reliably in the old days so decided to use brass since it was softer to stamp.

4. Steel was in tight supply due to a war and brass was plentiful.

5. It was prettier when displayed in the hardware store so they sold faster??

6. They didn't want it to rust out in a salty environment such as on a ship.

Anyone know for sure?

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Fred OH

06-05-2002 08:16:10




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 Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to davefr, 06-03-2002 14:47:41  
As an ex firefighter, I recall in fire service training something about an uninhibited chain reaction. This took place in a feed mill where there was a lot of dust from the operation and created one 7734 of an explosion. Also as other posts said, they were used in gun magazines aboard ship in the navy. You couldn't wear anything made out of ferrous metal and your shoes had to be tennis type shoes. As I recall, the tools were made out of beryllium copper. I once heard a story (navy bs session) about a fellow who worked in a large grain elevator in one of the prairie states who was working in the tunnels under the large towers of grain when a alarm went off that meant that there was an explosive atmosphere. He commenced to run to get out of there and at the end of the tunnel it exploded and blew him up against the wall. The teller of this tale (Chester Clinton Douglas) said that it blew wheat into his face and it imbedded there and germinated. That seemed like a pretty tall tale, anyone knowledgeable in this department care to comment of whether or not it's possible L8R....Fred OH

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Bus Driver

06-04-2002 16:46:26




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 Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to davefr, 06-03-2002 14:47:41  
The other posts are correct. Theory #2 about the weight is not the reason. Brass is heavier than steel for a given volume. in Biblical accounts, the Hittites were very successful warriors. They had iron weapons which were both somewhat lighter and stronger than the brass (probably mostly copper) weapons of the other nations.



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big fred

06-04-2002 07:21:20




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 Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to davefr, 06-03-2002 14:47:41  
I would agree with the non-sparking theory. You get a lot of dust in the head house of a grain elevator, and I've seen several elevators burn when a spark ignites the grain dust. It can be quite a powerful explosion in high concentrations. If I was working up there, I'd pay extra to make sure I didn't strike a spark with my shovel.



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JoeK

06-03-2002 15:05:53




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 Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to davefr, 06-03-2002 14:47:41  
1:Non sparking/coal dust/flour/grain dust,many bulk items in dust form are highly flammable/explosive
6:Non corroding/non sparking shipboard use

would be my thoughts



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John Ne.

06-03-2002 22:13:28




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 Re: Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to JoeK, 06-03-2002 15:05:53  
Think you got it Joe, they used a brass alloy metal (Berylium,,?) for wrenches below decks on ship, to reduce the sparking possibility, in an oil fume rich environment, and in a war brass is the first thing taken for war materials, not steel. John Ne.



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Greaseman

06-07-2002 16:15:00




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 Re: Re: Re: Old Brass Scoop Shovel - Why brass?? in reply to John Ne., 06-03-2002 22:13:28  
I think that Number's 1 and six are correct. There would be H3/_/_ to pay if there was a spark near or in a dusty area.



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