MonoCalculus wrote:

When I was a lad, old dry cells were a source of interesting scrap,
carbon rods, zinc flashing, brass strips and brass terminals.

Are zinc-carbon cells still sold today, or are the AA, A, C and D
cells made up of more insidious (and poisonous) compounds?

The metallically-sealed cells look a little more daunting
than the bitumen-sealed zinc cans of yore.

What do we get when we rush down to our local hardware stores
apart from fork handles?

PS. I'm interested in getting hold of one of those wet Leclanche
cells, the sort with the baekelite moulded tops, that were
used to power door bells. Anybody got one for disposal? ISTR
that there was no depolarising agent fitted which served a useful
purpose - that of preventing annoying long presses of the bell-push.



I understand that the old design cells are still made. If you buy the
cheap cells ($1.00 a dozen or so)
then you get the old style. But if you buy Alkaline batteries you get a
cell that has the Zinc in the center
and Carbon around the outside. Most of the Zinc and Carbon is powdered
in the Alkaline cells

Bill K7NOM