I am repairing a 1950-52 AF #772 “red” water tower and need to replace the fluid in the glass tube.
What is that liquid that was in the glass tube?
And I wonder where I can buy/get some of that stuff?
Thanks alot for your help. Bob
Early forms of liquid in bubble lights included alcohol or ether; it could be colored based on preference. Since the late 1940s, bubble lights are now most often made with methylene chloride.
As copied from an article on the web… I would think alcohol would be the easiest to get and if the glass is clear color it with a little yellow dye.
Read up on the Methylene Chloride, it can be dangerous and is a known cancer causing agent. There was also a light oil used in bubble lights but as of now I can’t find any information on it…
Try the alcohol! with some dye. PS how do you intend to reseal the glass tube?
Hi Gray Cat- Happy 4th of July!
Thank you for the response. I think I will try alcohol and seal ithe tube with candle wax.
What do you think of that?
MEK (Methylene chloride) is no longer sold here in CA.
I’ll just use straight alcohol since it looks like water going up into the tower.
Take care. Bob
Good luck Bob, let us know the results!
And thanks, it was a Happy Independence Day. Hope yours was too.
Pat
Could the original stuff have been mineral oil?