Lead Clad Copper, Square and tapered rod?

[Aarong81]

I found this today in Livingston County, Mo(North Central). The items I am finding at this site date from aprox 1900-1950. Stamped on the side of this is PHILLIPS & SON. The outter layer is Lead but I am not positive what the core is made from but it is easily bendable. I can bend it using 3 fingers from each hand. There are not too many metals that would bend easily and look slightly corroded. It looks as if it was suppose to be straight, it has stress marks on the insides of each bend. Both inner and outter metals taper together.

I have received really good tips and info from this forum, Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[Ant]

That looks like an old soldering rod.

 

[Ant]

The core is flux...

 

[Marcus Detectus]

It matches those large old (and still used) soldering irons with the large pointed head about 5 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. They were either kept in a forge to get hot or electric with the old school cords that had the knitted looking outer sheath. Actually, some of those were knitted (by machine of course).

 

[Aarong81]

Soldering rod? I can imagine that since it is so easy to bend. I google it some but found nothing even close. Everything I found is a straight bar or rod, why would this be made in a taper? If your using it you would get used to it working good and then before you know it, it gets too fat to use. lol

So if this is solder, it may not be lead? Maybe Tin with flux? Unless lead was common for solder, IDK.

 

[GoGoGopher]

It is the arm from an old record player

HH,