[Ron Ramirez]

There was somebody offering that very thing on the other forum last year, or maybe the year before? Repro "Mershons" using copper pipe and a copper cap. I think for the bottom, he used another copper cap. Not sure what he did for an insulator?

Yup, it could be done. Now, if you could devise a way to turn the bottom end so it would hold a plastic insulator (much like an original Mershon) through which you could pass a bolt to use as a positive terminal, using the copper shell as negative, and allow the top cap to be removed for restuffing...now that would be something nice!