Item 97
Closing price: $25 |
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Item: 97 Description: Fuse with Original Fluid. This item was presented to me as a Pyrex fuse with its original fluid. I don’t see any embossing on the glass or any name on the brass ends. Perhaps the embossing is covered by the ends? The glass is clear; it is the contents that are colored. The overall length is 13-inches. No damage. I don’t know how these were positioned for use. View 2 is the same picture as View 1, but turned vertical. Brian Hash sent the following information: "This is a 1940s to around 1960 era fuse that is used on medium to high voltage transmission lines. The fluid may be hazardous, so the person who does purchase it should be cautioned. The fluid may be carbon tetrachloride or some type of mineral oil used in electric transformers from the era. Some of the mineral oils from that era are hazardous. As long as the fuse is not damaged, its ok to handle.
"The purpose of the fluid was to suppress the arc that would happen if the fuse blew. Based on the pictures, the fuse is rated for 20,000 to 30,000 volts and 20 to 30 amps. GE and "Schweitzer and Conrad" (S&C Co.) were the main manufacturers. The end caps on your fuse look like what S&C used. They are mounted in a vertical holder, much like what modern high voltage fuses use on power lines. Modern versions of this fuse use sand to suppress the arc as it is safer than the fluid. Without the suppressing fluid or sand, the arc that occurs when the fuse blows can be strong enough to shatter the fuse body. The fuse may have had a paper label or been ink stamped at one time. I can't say if the glass is made by Pyrex, but Pyrex did make glass for other GE fuses of the era." Estimate: $50 - $75 Open: $25 Closing price: $25 |
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