Plain bearing blocks

[Richard Offen]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "jbpickup" <jbpickup at ...> wrote:
>
> What metal are old plain bearing blocks mostly made from? Brass, 
bronze 
> or gunmetal?
> 
> JBP


As far as I am aware, most plain bearings were made of gun metal, which 
is a bronze with a small amount of zinc incorporated (about 2% zinc, 
10% tin and the rest copper).   Because of gunmetal's low coefficient 
of friction, it was popular for all kinds of bearings, but was 
generally superseded by phosphor bronze, which is more resistant to 
wear.

Richard