In response to all the hoopla about lead: Keep your head on and
wash your hands and you will be fine. For about 45 years I have been
involved with lead while working with solder and printing type and
Linotype metal and organ pipes. My first rule is "Wash your hands,
arms and anything else that was in intimate contact with the lead
before eating, etc."
The compound that many have not mentioned is lead sulphate, also known
as "Sugar of Lead". It forms around the bottom of organ pipes where
they sit in the chest holes and on other things. It is sweet, just
like sugar. It is white powder to crystalline. It is poisonous.
Charlie Meyer of the Meyer Organ Pipe Company worked around lead most
of his life. He was in his 80's when he passed away. He handled organ
pipe parts, soldering them together most of his adult life.
Lead really isn't all that bad if you take care.
Bill Klinger
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