Re: what is it

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2016/11/20 12:32:26

Looks like a jute rope. Depending on the year it could be used to make the space between the metal sound and/or water tight. My '49 uses a pitch based material similar to dum-dum. Today they'd call it seam sealer.
They used this around drain plumbing also. You fit teh bell and spigot together and tamp it in the space at the flange then pour molten lead on top to create a seal.