# Metallic objects named for the wrong metal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984 "2006-01-01T19:53:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/21 "2006-01-02T05:23:10Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s lots of things named _gold this_ and _golden that_ that were not made of gold. Starting with the Golden Fleece, I imagine. Actually, according to James Burke, the Golden Fleece actually has a basis in fact. The inhabitants of Lydia used to place sheepskins in the streams, where the wool and lanolin would catch the placer gold flakes washing down from the mountains. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/22 "2006-01-02T05:30:44Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > Lead piping was used for many things up until very recently. Recently relative to plumbing anyway, meaning within the last 70 years. [url=][http://www.extension.umn.edu/info-u/environment/BD303.html](http://www.extension.umn.edu/info-u/environment/BD303.html) And lead was used for some toilet bends up until the 50’s. Interesting. I had been under the impression that piping, at least for potable water systems, had not been made of lead since at least the 18th century or thereabouts. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/23 "2006-01-02T08:07:58Z")
Back during the days of the Manhattan Project, the nuclear scientists referred to the isotope of plutonium as “copper”. When they needed something that was actually copper, they had to call it, “Honest-to-God copper”. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/24 "2006-01-02T10:11:18Z")
Nickel was originally called _kupfernickel_, meaning “the Devil’s copper” because the guy who named it was trying to extract copper and kept getting this other damned metal. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/25 "2006-01-02T10:39:39Z")
I have an iron that isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/26 "2006-01-02T16:09:20Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s lots of things named _gold this_ and _golden that_ that were not made of gold. Yes, but they aren’t purporting to say they’re made of the metal. In those contexts, “gold” and “golden” are colors or characteristics, not descriptors of the material used. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/27 "2006-01-02T17:04:47Z")
Were lead pencils ever lead? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/28 "2006-01-02T17:08:58Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Were lead pencils ever lead? [Yep.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil#History) This is, in fact, the reason they are still called “lead” pencils. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/29 "2006-01-02T17:09:23Z")
Actually, yes, soft lead was used for writing before graphite’s usefulness was discovered (source: Henry Petroski’s The Pencil). British police officers have never actually been made of copper. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/30 "2006-01-02T17:36:05Z")
No nickel in pumpernickel bread ? ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/31 "2006-01-02T23:19:45Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Interesting. I had been under the impression that piping, at least for potable water systems, had not been made of lead since at least the 18th century or thereabouts. Lead drain piping is not unheard of in ‘three deckers’ in my area (Most where built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s). Cast iron (drain) pipe often used poured lead joints up until the past 20 years or so (I have some in my basement) (Mostly replaced with ‘no hub’ cast iron (and of course plastic pipe), [http://www.cispi.org/handbook.htm](http://www.cispi.org/handbook.htm)). Solder containing lead was also used up until recently on drain pipe, the only reason it is banned is so it will not used on water supply pipe. IIRC ‘Plumber’ means worker of lead or some such, much of a plumbers work until recently involved using lead based solder or lead joints on cast iron pipe. Sorry to crap on your point. I have never seen lead pipe on water supply pipes even in older houses. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/32 "2006-01-03T00:38:04Z")
There are plenty of houses in the UK with lead supply pipes; the last one I lived in had one - it was built just after the war. It isn’t a big problem in hard water areas. The reason they aren’t all replaced in short order is that although they may have been installed by the water company, they (the bit between the water main in the street and the stopcock in the house) belong to the property owner - replacing the deeply-buried pipes (often subsequently covered by concrete driveways etc) is expensive - if there’s no significant amount of lead being dissolved into the tapwater, it’s a sleeping dog that many choose to let lie. Another one is ‘coppers’ - of the policeman variety (they’re made of human flesh), but the term is also used to describe loose change in 1 and 2 pence denominations - they’re not made of copper any more, but are instead copper-plated steel. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/33 "2006-01-03T01:07:05Z")
Wargaming miniatures are often called “leads”, but many are actually made with pewter or other alloys. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/34 "2006-01-03T02:00:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Tin roofing is generally tin-plated iron. I think these days (at least in Aust.) is generally zincalume ie the coating is zinc and aluminium. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/35 "2006-01-03T08:09:58Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > There are plenty of houses in the UK with lead supply pipes; the last one I lived in had one - it was built just after the war. It isn’t a big problem in hard water areas. > The reason they aren’t all replaced in short order is that although they may have been installed by the water company, they (the bit between the water main in the street and the stopcock in the house) belong to the property owner - replacing the deeply-buried pipes (often subsequently covered by concrete driveways etc) is expensive - if there’s no significant amount of lead being dissolved into the tapwater, it’s a sleeping dog that many choose to let lie. I’m not sure of the exact locations, but some of the city-owned water supply pipes in my city are still made of lead. Including the ones supplying my house. I believe these are the pipes connecting the water main to the house, but those are city property around here. The lead levels in our water are high, but they’re not outrageous. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/36 "2006-01-03T08:14:48Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > I’m not sure of the exact locations, but some of the city-owned water supply pipes in my city are still made of lead. Including the ones supplying my house. I believe these are the pipes connecting the water main to the house, but those are city property around here. The lead levels in our water are high, but they’re not outrageous. Dunno; I thought they were forced (by statute or something) to replace all of their lead pipes back in the 90s; in the house I mentioned, they dug up the street and replaced everything up to the boundary with plastic; writing to homeowners and offering to dig up and replace the lead pipes on their property at the same time (for some rather high price). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/37 "2006-01-03T08:19:12Z")
Tin roof ice cream has surprisingly little tin in it. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/38 "2006-01-03T08:33:11Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Dunno; I thought they were forced (by statute or something) to replace all of their lead pipes back in the 90s; in the house I mentioned, they dug up the street and replaced everything up to the boundary with plastic; writing to homeowners and offering to dig up and replace the lead pipes on their property at the same time (for some rather high price). Yeah, but don’t you live in Jollye Olde Englande or something? The laws are probably different around here. The city is gradually replacing these pipes, but it’s not an instantaneous process. I’m sure part of it involves evaluating how severe the danger is - if the pipes were causing massive neurological problems in children, it would be a different matter. It’s only one link in a long chain between the wells and the sink, and while the lead levels in our water are high, they don’t seem to be so high as to pose an enormous risk. The city gave us a free water filter in the meantime, though . . . :dubious: Still, though, this is the house I grew up in. Have to wonder if I’d be smarter if it weren’t for the lead. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/39 "2006-01-03T09:30:10Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > No nickel in pumpernickel bread ? No pump, either. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost wasn’t made of silver, nor was it particularly ghostly. And Raymond Burr’s sides weren’t made of iron. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984/40 "2006-01-03T09:34:00Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Yeah, but don’t you live in Jollye Olde Englande or something? The laws are probably different around here. Ooops; overlook’d/forgot your location. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metallic-objects-named-for-the-wrong-metal/337984.md?page=3)