I have to admit that the carbon rods were low on my list of things to
research on the U.S. Army, Fort Rosecrans archaeology. I recall observing a wide
variety of carbon rod shapes. These varied from pencil sized up to very thick
rods. There could be dozens of them. Depending on how this thread runs, I may
pull up the catalogs and see what we have to offer. If there is a typology, I
could sure use it. Fort Rosecrans was under construction from 1872-1874,
stopped, and then began again in 1895 and the first batteries staffed during the
Spanish American War of 1898. I expect the search light carbon rods began to
appear at that time. The post really began operation in 1902 and went into
full compliment a year later with drilling a standard practice. The place shut
down in 1922 and gradually reopened after 1935. We probably had a lot more
carbon rods from 1940 through 1959. Then the place shut down and the Navy
occupied the place around 1962. Based on this, I should think the carbon rods
would date between 1898 and 1946.
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
In a message dated 1/23/2009 5:39:55 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Jake -
I found about a half dozen C and D cell batteries (with carbon rods) at Fort
Johnson last year in a deposit dating between 1930 and 1941. I found (thanks
wikipedia) that dry cell batteries were invented in 1898.
Stan South found carbon arc light rods in his excavations on campus (the
Horseshoe) at USC. I did lab analysis. As I recall, those rods were thicker and
longer than dry cell battery rods, and drawn to a symetrical point on the arc
end. You could probably get access to those and measure them for comparison.
I'll put measuring battery rods on my list of things to do....
Carl Steen
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert L. Schuyler <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 7:55 am
Subject: Re: re-use of carbon battery rods
Keep working on that inventory and chronology. If there is a
narrowing perhaps we will end up with "carbon rod dating" similar to
pipe stem dating minus the hold. I have always wondered if it was
possible to do something with an artifact we all fine on almost all
sites and your comments on function and use are really interesting. I
have seen catalogs on batteries but not on the rods. How were they
made and who made them - the battery makers or some more specialized
companies??
?
Bob Schuyler?
?
At 03:07 AM 1/23/2009, jakob crockett wrote:?
>Hello,?
>?
>I have no useful info re: modified carbon rods, but I am in the?
>process of putting together a typology/chronology of carbon rods,?
>which may be of interest to the list in general. The?
>typology/chronology is based on primary documents gathered at?
>Winterthur, including manufacturing, distributing, and retailer trade?
>catalogs of the late 19th and early 20th century. This is a low?
>priority project right now, as it only fits tangentially into my?
>research, but I poke at it when I've the time. So far, it appears?
>that the typology will be useful--in some cases--for identifying the?
>size of the battery (in terms of current, which might be useful in?
>narrowing down the range of circuits it may have been used for, e.g.?
>telephone or door bell) or arc lamp. There also seems to be narrowing?
>of ranges available over time in terms of diameter, which could aid in?
>dating.?
>?
>I'll let the list know when the typology is (more) complete.?
>?
>Best wishes,?
>Jake?
>?
>--?
>Jakob Crockett?
>?
>Department of Anthropology?
>University of South Carolina?
>Hamilton College, Room 317?
>Columbia, SC 29208?
>?
>http://mannsimons.freehostia.com?
>?
> > Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:45:29 -0600?
> > From: Alasdair Brooks <[log in to unmask]>?
> > Subject: re-use of carbon battery rods?
> >?
> > Dear All,?
> >?
> > I have a sneaking suspicion that this has come up before, so apologies
for?
> > potentially raising an old topic, but...?
> >?
> > Over the last few years, I've worked on or been associated with sites in?
> > both Australia and the UK where large numbers of late 19th- to early?
> > 20th-century carbon battery rods were recovered.?
> >?
> > A small, but noticeable, portion of these - some (if memory serves)
found?
> > in the same context as slate pencils and writing slates - had clearly
been?
> > sharpened at one end in manner similar to a sharpened pencil. I'm?
> > currently doing the glass for a Sheffield (UK) based project where
another?
> > colleague has been identifying these 'sharpened' battery rods in some?
> > quantity.?
> >?
> > My question is: do any of you know of any citations in the
archaeological?
> > (or other) literature that addresses this phenomenon, particularly as?
> > regards confirmation (or otherwise) of the recycling of carbon battery?
> > rods as pencils.?
> >?
> >?
> > A quick google search reveals some references to the reverse (how to use
a?
> > pencil's graphite core in a home-made battery), but not to battery rod?
> > recycling.?
> >?
> > Please send (or cc) replies off-list in the first instance as the other?
> > colleague involved doesn't subscribe to HISTARCH - but I promise to?
> > collate any and all references (if there are any) into a single handy?
> > post.?
> >?
> > Anecdotal reports, rather than academic citations, of the occurrence of?
> > re-used battery rods are also welcome.?
> >?
> > Thank you,?
> >?
> > Alasdair Brooks?
> >?
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