I honestly don't know what happen, but all the parts are encased in that brittle stuff. Sometimes, like others I imagine, I strip an old radio or amp or some parts off an amp are just corroded and I'll toss them in a bowl - spray em with panther piss or rust remover or something - let 'em set a bit - clean 'em off and see if they are usable or can be make usable. But, um, forgot about this for a long time and what's in that bowl is the result. Hard to believe inside that stuff are screw, washers, etc...
Figured I'd share the picture and what happened. I must say, this is a first for me. Generally if I kind of forget about they just get gooey from the spray or something, but, ya, not these - lol.