Same here.A friend rescued it from the sidewalk for trash pick up and gave it to me.I currently have a little five gallon metaframe that is not in use right now.They turn up pretty regularly in the flea markets around here.Dr_Shakalu;4893806; said:
anyone ever see those really old metal frame tanks?
- Thread starter Carefree_Dude
- Start date
Don't ask me about the '70s, I don't remember that much about them Except that the fish were much more colorfull. 
I used to have a 60, but it leaked. I used it as a terrarium for a while, then had to toss it in a move. Interesting thing about the slate bottoms. They were used because they used to heat the tanks with bunsen burner type apperatus. The slate heated evenly from the flame. I can't imagine trying to keep temps stable that way!
my dads got a 30 gal with a metal frame like the one in your picture.. still holds water no problems just doesn't have all the slate you talked about..
A variation,I've never seen one with a bottom other than slate...One store here has a few on display and they have sign posted,Not for sale.Don't even ask...ShroomMastap;4894126; said:
The sealant was battery pitch. A net-friend in India still uses it in making his own tanks. My first two or three tanks were slate bottomed metal frames. Hoods were stainless steel with incandescent bulbs too. I think I got my first fluorescent hood around 1975.
I have a couple of those. One wouldn't hold water but the other looks like it might. They are my pantry shelves. No slate bottom, though, just wavy glass.
I have a 10ga metal frame slate bottom tnat my wife said her parents bought shortly after her brother was born in '69.
