Lead wool

Lead wool consists of thin strands of lead metal that can be used to cold-caulk cast iron and steel pipes. ^[1] It was manufactured by the New York Lead Wool Company in the United States^[2] and by The Lead Wool Company, Limited in Snodland, Kent, England.^[3]

Lead wool, loose and bagged. From a trade catalog, 1947.

The Lead Wool Company (the British company) was incorporated on 9 October 1919^[4] (although some references indicate that it was active before that date) and was still active in 1983.^[5] The British company also developed a device to test pipe joints internally.^[6]

The company's factory had been demolished by 1994, according to a report on archaeological excavations near the factory's site.^[7]

Lead wool is presently manufactured in the UK by Calder Industrial Materials Limited.^[8]