[GreenKeys] Surplus "Aroma"

[Peter Gottlieb]

The aroma is complex and of more than one source.  One source is the 
thick coating that was applied to transformers.  I know this because I 
am working on a piece of gear where one transformer overheated and the 
smell is quite distinct.  I like it, but it is probably really bad for 
me.  The transformer was not destroyed and in cleaning it up by removing 
excess coating so that I might re-seal it, even the Dremeling of it 
produced the very strong odor.  It is a very thick, light brown 
resilient coating.

I have also found different odors to come from the anti-fungus coating.  
I had a bunch of badly damaged gear which I stripped of parts and had 
the chassis in a separate area and that area had quite a specific aroma 
after a while even though it only contained completely stripped chassis 
aluminum.

Peter


Steve Hilsz wrote:
> Everybody who has worked around military surplus recognizes the 
> "aroma" that emanates from it. I can remember shopping in Abe Kranow's 
> "Standard Surplus" store on Market Street in San Francisco and 
> breathing in that wonderful "surplus smell." However, I've never been 
> able to find out it's origin. When I work aboard old navy vessels in 
> Brownsville, Texas, the same aroma permeates everything (including me, 
> at day's end).
>
> So, is it originating from a specific hydrocarbon source? Has anybody 
> figured out the source? Is it from Moisture & Fungus-Proofing compounds?
>
> Steve Hilsz
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