[morzh]

I will post photos either today or tomorrow: I cut off the top cap with my Dremel and the cutting disk, right at the groove, so it will look fine.

Insides were as dry as H**l on a hot day in June.
Taking them out did not pose any problems, and there was no tar or anything. It was dry dry.

The central rod is quite high and should it be solderable I'd have no problem soldering to it, but I think it is not, and it is attached to the solder contact with a rivet of some sort.
So as I planned, I will remove it and go with two wires.

I will wait 'till I finish, but so far it is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.