Asbestos in a Zenith C845? Other dangers?

[drh4683]

What you described is not asbestos. That little square is just a black foam pad. Its placed as an isolation/dampener to prevent vibration between the chassis and cabinet, as the C845 is a "hi fi" radio and puts out the sound. the bottom of the chassis has a metal plate cover which can vibrate with excessive bass. This pad prevents that. Actually, Im surprized it still flexible. Most of the time those dry out rock hard.

Generally, asbestos is found in the top of the cabinet on the old radios above the audio output tube. Usually a sheet, very thin, about 1/16" and very fiberous, and whitish/grey in color. Sometimes, it can be corrugated sheet too.

Since it was brought up, I to had an asbestos fear as a kid, but then realized it is not hazardous if its non-friable. So if you dont go crazy shreading it and breathing it, its fine. It is however the best dang insulator ever and is chemically resistant to practically everything. Johns Mannville was a major manufacturer of asbestos related products, if not all of it. They were based in Waukegan, IL as was the processing plant. peices of asbestos wash up on the beachs in Waukegan and Zion and down to the Oak street Beach in Chicago all the time. Supposedly alot of asbestos debris made its way into lake michigan from JM. Thats another story.....

Asbestos is a natural element. Ive heard the ingorant old saying "If its from the Earth, it can't hurt you"........I think not!