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Offline OrcamanTopic starter
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« on: July 25, 2011, 02:55:44 pm »
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Hi all. Recently while diving a steamship that sank in 1911 we came across some odd drum/barrel shaped items. Try and picture a typical beer/draught size vat, picture a scene from Greece with a marble pillar that has been toppled and lies broken in segments on the ground and you will slowly start getting a picture of what it is I'm trying to describe here.
There are two columns of 4 drums lying alongside each other, in a fairly straight line, the drums only slightly off center to each other.
There is also fairly little growth on them so immediately I thought that they may be lead. I tapped one with a hammer and nothing much happened, tapped a little harder and there was a slight indenting but no black plume as one would expect from cast iron or mild steel. They are definately lead. They are smooth and seem to be watertight hence no further tapping with the hammer.
I am certain these were used for sealing cargo of sorts that were not to get wet or damp at any cost. Being a steamer I thought they may be grease cannisters, but why seal off grease when you could just barrel them?! Interesting indeed, really got me thinking. Sealing cargo in this manner would surely deter pilfering...leading me to think that possibly it is something valuable.
Do any of you wizened folk here have any idea what these may be? I don't have any photo's unfortunately and the next time we dive there we will be lifting some for sure. They are very heavy, I couldn't budge one even. We will use a pump to blow the sand from around and under them, secure a cargo net under them and use a 3 or 5 ton lifting bag to raise and tow in.
Looking forward to any suggestions Smiley
PS: The thought of depth charges crossed my mind...but they aren't. Great

Cheers all

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Offline GoldDigger1950
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« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2011, 03:48:01 pm »
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Lead is used to seal a lot of things but notably for sealing radioactive materials. It prevents the escape of the dangerous particles. If those are recently disposed, say in the last 30 years or so, they may be full of spent fuel dumped by some nasty people. I'd have a Geiger counter nearby and make the tiniest hole first to see if anything at all leaks out.

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Offline OrcamanTopic starter
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« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2011, 12:44:35 am »
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Hi there GD. It's definately from the wreck that we are working so it hasn't been dumped there recently. The only nuclear facility is at Koeberg in Cape Town and they wouldn't take the effort to dump where we are working. It's amazing the things one can conjur up what possibly could be in the drums...body parts, linen, paper money, important documentation, coins, pies, carrots,  and as you can see the list grows bigger and the possibilities more varied  Funny

I've done a bit of searching(Google) but haven't found anything solid about these drums. I sure hope this thread gets going so our fellow MD's and TH's can come up with some interesting options.

Have a great day and better week  Great


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« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2011, 01:59:16 am »
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If you gave the name of the ship I could see what I can come up with regarding it's cargo. I could do a search with 1911 and steam ship but then I guess that I would find quite a few of them.

All the best
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Offline OrcamanTopic starter
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« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2011, 10:28:57 am »
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Hi Xavier, I know the cargo/ships manifest and nothing on record there.... and I'd have to email you the name etc  Police

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Offline xavier
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« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2011, 02:04:04 pm »
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Haa well if you have the manifest then you have it all mate not much to find out about it then is there LOL but you do have me thinking about them drums especially the fact that they are lead by the way lead sells at R8.00 per Kg could be worth quite a bit them drums.

All the best
Xavier

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Offline OrcamanTopic starter
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« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2011, 02:40:09 pm »
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Hehe, currently R12 a kilo squire. Depends where you sell your metals. I don't stand in a line with a bunch of cable thieves pushing wheelbarrows and shopping carts. We have a great dealer in PE, top prices, all current with the secretary on-line getting updated prices...very jacked. Cheques too, no cash which is a good thing. Other guys got ripped off for 10K by the merchant who went to the bank to draw the cash, claims he was mugged on the way back! Yeah right.

Brass we are getting R38-39kg, gun metal R50-52kg, lead R12kg and copper R60,60 so not too bad at the moment.
We've got a dive planned for Seal Point as soon as the sea drops off so maybe we can grab a coffee or something. Will give you a shout.

Cheers mate. Great

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« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2011, 03:12:37 am »
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Damn those are good prices 50% more is a hell of a lot. Got your PM so will have a look and see what I can come up with.

All the best
Xavier

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« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2011, 11:46:36 am »
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Have you found out what the drums are yet?  I have been curious since you posted.  thanks

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« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2011, 11:55:57 am »
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Hi Troydepp

The ship was caring pianos so we think that the drums may contain the piano wires but we will have to wait till Orcaman gives us more info on that.

Al the best
Xavier

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