Mystery Socket
- Thread starter coconanipoo
- Start date
metaleltr
Well-known member
Be-Cu Beryllium Copper. It is not brass, but it is a non-sparking socket.
cmandp
Well-known member
It's actually made out of beryllium copper commonly used to make non-sparking tools. Not sure who made it, perhaps Ampco who makes a lot of non-sparking tools. The part number doesn't appear to match anything in their current catalog however.
beerdog
Well-known member
You could try checking Alloy Artifacts for the manufacturer mark. That sideways diamond is probably the mfg mark. That site has a table with tons of old tool maker logos.
neophyte
Well-known member
The two major manufacturers of Beryllium Copper tools for the US market are Berylco and Ampco.
http://www.ngkmetals.com/index.cfm/m/95/
http://www.ampcosafetytools.com/
Other US companies have also sold Beryllium Copper tools but they may have been relabelled. Don't try to polish it, the dust from Beryllium Copper can be highly toxic.
This is the Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryllium_copper
http://www.ngkmetals.com/index.cfm/m/95/
http://www.ampcosafetytools.com/
Other US companies have also sold Beryllium Copper tools but they may have been relabelled. Don't try to polish it, the dust from Beryllium Copper can be highly toxic.
This is the Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryllium_copper
Outlawmws
Well-known member
If you want to clean it up, use MOTHER's metal polish and paper towels, (toss the used paper towels obv.) and wash your hands well. it's primary danger is airborne/breathed, so you don't want to wire wheel this stuff...
Nice find BTW. BeCu tools are expensive.
Nice find BTW. BeCu tools are expensive.
Curious WHERE the OP got that unique socket since in California ??
The wiki reference indicates the non-sparking benefit of socket used around oil rigs, etc where there might be flammable gases (ie methane / natural gas / diesel / propane / gasoline, etc)
The wiki reference indicates the non-sparking benefit of socket used around oil rigs, etc where there might be flammable gases (ie methane / natural gas / diesel / propane / gasoline, etc)
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4xdog
Well-known member
We used to have a beryllium machine shop at the research institute where I spent the first ten years of my career. Serious controls in that area because as noted beryllium is toxic. Not to be played around with.
In beryllium-copper tools, it's fine. But I wouldn't do anything to a piece that could liberate dust.
In beryllium-copper tools, it's fine. But I wouldn't do anything to a piece that could liberate dust.
RCStocker
Well-known member
California has more industry than any other state. We have had so much airospace manifacturing and other industry. I live between my home in So California, my farm in Indiana and Australia. There a thousand good tools here with no rust for eveyone I find in Indiana or any of my travels. California is loaded with good tools and equipment. There are over 40 million people living heer and we have the worlds sixth largest econemy in the world if we were ranked by country. You wonder why it showed up here., That is a hoot.
Just checking posts above . . . funny thing you are NOT the OP !! Ha, ha!
Maybe the guy moved from TX or LA or AK for that matter. Just curious as it would add to the story of how he got the unique socket.
Why not lay off the caffeine in your morning coffee ??
jayrush13
Well-known member
Just checking posts above . . . funny thing you are NOT the OP !! Ha, ha!
Maybe the guy moved from TX or LA or AK for that matter. Just curious as it would add to the story of how he got the unique socket.
Why not lay off the caffeine in your morning coffee ??
Do you not think there are oil fields in California or oil refineries or other industries where you would need no sparking tools
Or ship yards and navel bases
neophyte
Well-known member
Beryllium Copper tools are used to prevent explosions from sparks, but they were also used for other reasons as well. The beryllium Copper is non-magetic so tools made from it, are sometimes used by bomb disposal teams, and around highly magnetic fields, such as MRI machines. I've also seen tools from it recommended for use in marine environments to prevent rust. Titanium and Stainless Steel seem to be supplanting some of those uses now. Ampco, one of the major manufacturers has started using Beryllium free alloys, were possible, due to safety concerns over the beryllium.
OP
coconanipoo
Active member
The tools belonged to my father. He was born in 1907, so I have a lot of old tools to research before I put them up for sale. Plomb, Williams, Snap-on, Blue Point, Crescent, Indestro, Craftsman, Hinsdale, P & C, Vlchek, New Britain and more that I haven't gotten to yet.
So I presume that your dad has passed on, or he's 106 now? Great that you've inherited his tools and sorting through them. The stories that some of those could tell . . . . .
Where was he born and what industry do you think the non-sparking socket was utilized for those benefits?
OP
coconanipoo
Active member
He was born in Palermo, Sicilia. He was a Machinist and Welder at the San Pedro Shipyards, in California
Yes, it seems like at least a couple of posters don't think there is an oil industry in Cali. Historically, it had some of the largest oil fields in the contiguous 48 states, especially in Kern County, a little north of the OP's location, and it still has many oil refineries.
It's not the 6th largest anymore. Cali has slipped considerably in world ranking in the past several years. As of 2012, it's "only" the 12th largest economy in the world. But, I think it still has the highest marginal income tax rate of all 50 states, so it's still number one in something.
