Grand Dad of All Resistors???

[vango57]

In my collection of military boards I came across this 15 inch, pound and a half resistor of 49 ohms.
This was made in 1961 and the packaging has a number of WECO # D167901. The packaging also have the numbers DSA9-101 and S905-502-9706. Just wondering if anyone had any input? I googled the D167 number and it kept leading me to some generator assembly.

 

[vango57]

Don't know why the picture didn't come through so I will try it again.

 

[Militoy]

Don't know why the picture didn't come through so I will try it again.

Kind of an unusual construction for a straight-up power resistor - From the shape of the end caps (kind of similar to a vacuum capacitor), I would bet it is some kind of surge suppressor or ballast for switchgear applications. Western Electric ("WECO") made a lot of different types of switchgear accessories over the years. BTW - Not exactly what I would think of as the "Grand Dad" in size - I have used dry power resistors weighing hundreds of pounds for transformer testing. The really big ones are oil-cooled, and have radiators, ullage bellows, etc.

 

[vango57]

Compared to the weights you mention I guess this just might only be the proverbial Red Headed Step Child? Anyway,,,,, any idea if any PM's exist in this component? It definetly looks to be vacuum sealed.

 

[Militoy]

Compared to the weights you mention I guess this just might only be the proverbial Red Headed Step Child? Anyway,,,,, any idea if any PM's exist in this component? It definetly looks to be vacuum sealed.

I'm not familiar with this particular component - but I do use vacuum caps in various equipment I design - and they can run from a few $ for used ones from sellers that don't know what they have, to thousands of $ for new parts rated above 50KV. The part is likely to be worth more for its technical value than any PM content. One interesting aspect of vacuum-sealed switchgear is the use of radioactive uranium glass. If you have access to a short-wave UVA lamp (ultraviolet - "black light"), you may find that the end-cap glass seals glow a bright, beautiful yellow-green. This kind of glass is also called "Vasoline glass" because of its color. It is radioactive - but at a level that is considered safe to be around and to handle.

 

[macfixer01]

Compared to the weights you mention I guess this just might only be the proverbial Red Headed Step Child? Anyway,,,,, any idea if any PM's exist in this component? It definetly looks to be vacuum sealed.

I'm not familiar with this particular component - but I do use vacuum caps in various equipment I design - and they can run from a few $ for used ones from sellers that don't know what they have, to thousands of $ for new parts rated above 50KV. The part is likely to be worth more for its technical value than any PM content. One interesting aspect of vacuum-sealed switchgear is the use of radioactive uranium glass. If you have access to a short-wave UVA lamp (ultraviolet - "black light"), you may find that the end-cap glass seals glow a bright, beautiful yellow-green. This kind of glass is also called "Vasoline glass" because of its color. It is radioactive - but at a level that is considered safe to be around and to handle.

Thanks for the cool picture. I've always been fascinated with Geissler tubes and the like which often contain sections of uranium glass tubing, to add to the colors of the various gasses.

macfixer01