strange spring reverb mechanism? inductive ash?

[chunks717]

so I took apart this old Danelectro reverb box, model 9100 it claims....
and the tubes seem to be doing what they should................
Instead of inductors/etc.  on either side of the spring, the signal leads
(hot and ground) run into a small "baggie of ash", and the spring is hooked
to this baggie.  Now i'm sure this is conductive to some degree, and is
also probably inductive?!?  ......but it don't work no more..........................

anyone know what is going on here? or what that ash may consist of?

if i short the leads around the spring, (parallel) there is a large signal boost,
and hella distortion (probably will add a switch to do that on purpose)....
but its WAY too big a box for just a shitty tube distortion.......................

[TELEFUNKON]

"coal microphone"