On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:20:38 -0600, G. Morgan wrote:

That paint on the old broken spring used to be a straight line; so why
does the old spring still show 7 spirals as if it's still wound?

Also notice the winding spirals are in the opposite direction from the
original. Why would that be?

Because when the spring is compressed, it's not exposed to the elements.
When you wind the spring it shortens in length by a few inches, then you
tighten it. When unwound, that extra length is visible.

I don't understand.
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11697515.jpg

I guess you're saying that the old spring was exposed to the elements
while it was in the wound state - and yet - the backside of the spring
isn't exposed to the elements so the backside is noticeably less rusted.

So, I guess, the backside gets a straight line of less rust while the
spring is still wound seven times - and when that spring breaks, that
straight line turns into an opposite spiral of less-rusted spring steel
as the now-broken spring instantly spins back the 7 times to unwind?