Rotten foam (kinda boatanchor related)

[C Stewart]

Folks, this is my first post and my fireproof suit is at the cleaners.....

I've looked around, and I can't seem to find anything about this topic.
Since it may be related to boatanchor restoration, I thought I'd ask you.

I've aquired an old military surplus frequency meter.  This thing could
LITERALLY be used as a boat anchor.  Case and all, it must weight at least
50lbs.  Anyway, in the cover of the case is a compartment that holds a spare
set of tubes, fuses, lunch, etc.  It is lined with a black, open cell foam
to keep the tubes and whatnot from breaking.  It is rotten.  I know that is
probably not the right word, but it smears and sticks to everything, and I
can detect a smell coming off of it when I open the compartment.  I am
worried that this stuff might be releasing schemicals that I wouldn't want
in my body.  I don't know the exact age, but the marking on the case is
AN/TSM-16 for those in the know.

Also, any ideas about cleaning tthis stuff up?  It's all over the tube boxes
and everything else that was in there.

Thanks.
--
Science has proven that the human body can tolerate nearly everything,
except death.

C. Stewart
nemisis at brunnet.net

-----------------------------------------------------------
This list is a public service of the City of Tempe, Arizona
-----------------------------------------------------------

Subscription control - http://www.tempe.gov/lists/control.asp?list=BOATANCHORS
To post - BOATANCHORS at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Archives - http://interactive.tempe.gov/archives/BOATANCHORS.html