What are these?

I have recently been metal detecting on a old post & pre World War II railway dump and along with some old bottles and other metal finds I have come across 20+ of these little things all in separate locations.



So far I only know that there is a stick going through most of the full ones and the outside stuff on the inside comes off like a black chalk but on most it does not because it is covered in something still.

I would appreciate any ideas of what these are.

My grandfather put forward the suggestion of the old radio fuses but I just wanted all your combined knowledge.

Appreciated in advance...

Can you give a little more info? About how big are they. Is the rod metal. Could the "outter" part be wood?

Those are old dry cell batteries. Eventually, all that will remain is the carbon rod in the middle. Those are the "C" cell but you can frequently find the carbon rods from "D" cells that are about 3/4" in diameter by 5" long.

I find these rods all the time when exploring the desert.

Originally Posted by fiat128

Those are old dry cell batteries. Eventually, all that will remain is the carbon rod in the middle. Those are the "C" cell but you can frequently find the carbon rods from "D" cells that are about 3/4" in diameter by 5" long.

I find these rods all the time when exploring the desert.

Got any links to them on the internet or more information?

Anybody out there know anything?

as fiat told you, it is prob a metal rod (graphite maybe) with corroded carbon cell remnants from a "c" cell battery. Google carbon cell batteries or graphite rods.....you have to be willing to do a little research yourself BEFORE you bring it to the forum...otherwise it makes it look like you want someone else to do your research for you. If it sounds as if you've tried and had no luck, then we are more than happy to pitch in and help.

Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee

as fiat told you, it is prob a metal rod (graphite maybe) with corroded carbon cell remnants from a "c" cell battery. Google carbon cell batteries or graphite rods.....you have to be willing to do a little research yourself BEFORE you bring it to the forum...otherwise it makes it look like you want someone else to do your research for you. If it sounds as if you've tried and had no luck, then we are more than happy to pitch in and help.

I did extensive research before I even thought about posting it to this forum. Thanks anyway for your information. I think the dump was ex-railway and there is a small house ruin near the dump so I am guessing it could have been a train engineer or something along those lines.

Linesmans telephone batterys I'd say.
No use at all but if you find telephone parts they are worth a fair bit to collectors.

If they are railroad stuff, try searching on "Edison Battery". These were used to power the signal lights and were made of cells in banks (you've got the cells, they would have been all together in a box of some sort in water with oil on top).