What do we have here?

[travcoman45]

Anybody got a WAG bout what this is?














It's a Salometer, used fer testin the salt strength of a brine er cure. If yer gonna do a strictly salt cure, ya gotta have one a these. Much more accurate then just measurin er even wieghin yer salt. Had one an it got broke. Took a long time ta find nother one made in America an this one be an antique. The new ones er from France (screw that), this en from the Diamond Crystal Salt Co. an is in standard percentages. Had ta do some biddin ta get it, but it's mine now.

Got some more ham an beef recipes were gonna try out what will require the use a this. We'll post em up as we do em.
__________________

 

[eaglewing]

Too funny!!

Congrats on your find...

 

[bcfishman]

Looks like a billy club and old rectal thermometer. I assume you are correct though. I would recommend washing first just in case I am correct. That's the funny thing about eBay. You think you are the only one in the world who would want that thing, and next you're in a bidding war for it. Good find and look forward to many pics of it being used. (Unless of course it is a rectal thermometer. Then no pics please.)

 

[scubadoo97]

It's the best way to know what percent brine you are working with and will certainly improve consistency

This is a good document on brine concentrations

http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpu...ubs/h99002.pdf

 

[fire it up]

Very nice.
Just be sure to use caution and not break this one, never know if you'll be able to get another without having to go the frog route

 

[meateater]

Nice grab! I need er want one, gonna have to start searching.

 

[gnubee]

Trav Aquarium supply stores usually carry them. They usually have a thermometer combined with the salinometer. I have one I use for making the brine that I need to raise brine shrimp in. Damn things break real easy.

 

[badfrog]

any difference between a salometer and a sphygmomanometer? I used to make various flavors of wine every year and used the sphygmo for testing specific gravity which would tell me the amount of alcohol in the wine. I am guessing the scale is different... I never thought about testing a brine for it salinity... great idea! I am guessing you can very accurately re-produce your brine every time this way!

 

[travcoman45]

Badfrog, same principle different scales. I'm sure a feller could convert them scales, but that be onea the reason's I didn't wan't the one from france, cause I'd have ta convert all the time.

Neat tool if yer really inta brines an cures.

 

[pops6927]

Dad had one, I'd see it bobbin' and a floatin' in the 55 gal. brine bucket when he'd make up a new batch.

 

[jjp2]

you can find something similar at a marine fish store. It may be in other readings. It's used to mix salt water. They run about 10 - 15 there.

 

[scubadoo97]

Here is a hygrometer used in maintaining salt water fish tanks. I have one similar to this but it's not as well marked. I'm going to have to look for it.

Plastic and inexpensive. You can get them for under $10 but they top out at near the salinity of seawater or a specific gravity of 1.026 which is only about a 3.7% brine. Not exactly what we are looking for for brining meats.


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CC4Q9QEwCg