day wrote:Nice find;)

Yes, thanks to both of you for posting it! So basically, what they're saying is that to attract a magnet, a piece of iron alloy has to have the atoms spaced closely enough for electrons to flow between them. These fancy stainless alloys space the iron atoms far enough apart that they all keep their own electrons, and so the material doesn't respond to a magnet.

Thanks! That makes sense. Now that work is easing up for the next few weeks, hopefully I'll get a chance to turn some wrenches on this bad boy soon.

Hey I am currently restoring a similar machine and after soaking the boiler it looks like it is coated copper. I'll know more and have pictures tomorrow.