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What is this? What was it's original intended use?

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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 11:46 AM
  #1  
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What is this? What was it's original intended use?

OK old guys! Maybe you can help me with what this is. It has been around the family for over 50 years. I remember it when I was little at my dad's shop. It is a about 30" long about 50+ lbs. I remember my dad telling me that it was filled with mercury and can be mounted in a car and used for racing. Dad had passed 3 1/2 years agoe and I was cleaning the garage this weekend and came acrossed it. If you stand it on end. lift it up about 6" and drop it. It will bounce up a few inches like it has a heavy spring in it. I cannot see any markings or numbers on it. Both ends look the same as pictured.

What do you think?

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Attached Thumbnails What is this?  What was it's original intended use?-img_3181.jpg  
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 12:33 PM
  #2  
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From: Western Colorado
Yeah ..... I remember some kinda deal like that .... was supposed to store the inertia from acceleration and then release it when you shifted or ????? .... just can't remember the details ...... maybe it will all come back to me after my nap
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 12:41 PM
  #3  
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From: Port Deposit, MD
Pipe bomb?
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 12:57 PM
  #4  
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Be very careful if it is mercury.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 01:03 PM
  #5  
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From: Ohio: Home of the disappointing sports teams
Don't tell to many people that its mercury!! You have the Feds moving you and your family out of your house and blocking of the streets for a HAZ-MAT situation.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 01:06 PM
  #6  
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From: Claremont, Virginia
Originally Posted by cincydiesel
Don't tell to many people that its mercury!! You have the Feds moving you and your family out of your house and blocking of the streets for a HAZ-MAT situation.
To say the least.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 01:11 PM
  #7  
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I don't think I'd want to be bouncing that thing around anymore, but that's me.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 01:17 PM
  #8  
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From: Brookings Orygun
I remember as a kid loving to play with murcury.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 01:20 PM
  #9  
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
There's probably enough mercury in that thing to supply all of the Sushi places in Japan for a year!
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 05:35 PM
  #10  
sled4fun's Avatar
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From: Sacramento
Well it's not a pipe bomb. Now if the price of mercury is high enough. Maybe i can get a tank of fuel out of it.

Still would like to know what it is and what it was designed for.
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 06:17 PM
  #11  
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From: Marion ,Michigan (Snow Belt Area)
I Think Its An Anti Sway Device
Its Supose To Slow The Inertia ( Or Adsorbe Some Of It) As You Make A Turn - Thus Cutting Body Role
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Old Apr 21, 2008 | 07:29 PM
  #12  
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From: Little Switzerland NC
My swag is is a weight transfer for drag racing.I remember reading on Smoky he was using a similar device.It was to transfer more weight to the rear on launching.As for the anti sway post it would put the weight in the wrong place.
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