USA Trains

Need to know what these parts are made of? (circled parts)

Toad

My guess would be zinc. The parts are about the right color. Hope that helps.

So zinc would wear down easy? Like that is on most all electrical pickups for g gauge.

Toad

I think they are graphite…same material motor brushes are made of. Jerry

Graphite would be my guess also.

Mark

It’s a Motor “Brush” or Pickup “Brush” (125 years ago they were copper brushes) and are normally made of a carbon materials such as graphite mixed with a hardening agent like copper dust, asbestos, or asinic.

They very in hardness, they are designed to wear, they are required to be softer than the surface they run against, such as a motor commutator or as a pickup on the side of a wheel, both of which you do NOT want to wear.

Just as an aside, I wasnt aware USA sold those - I could use those, I have to add power pickups to a couple of projects, thanks for the sideways heads-up [:D]

got a part # [?]

Toad