Wary of the composition of old used cookware?

[aperture]

Weird question, but I'm looking at buying an old metal stovetop teapot off Etsy. The seller says it was made in the 70s or 80s in the then-USSR, and the branding on the kettle's base seems to say as much. Looks like stainless steel, no obvious damage.

 

Now maybe this is just prejudice but...is it safe to buy and use something like this as a normal kitchen kettle? I assume, for example, that by the 70s nobody was using lead or something in kitchen products, but have no real idea. Also, no idea how I might even check that it's ok.

 

I can link the item -- not sure of eGullet's policy on ecommerce links.

 

Thanks!

[btbyrd]

In Soviet Russia, kettle boils you!

[chefmd]

In Soviet Russia kettle boils you and spews lead!  I grew up in Russia but have no idea if there was any lead or any other dangerous chemicals in the Russian made cookware.

[Lisa Shock]

I'd make sure to clean out the insides very well. Who knows what might be in old mineral scaling... I mean, what if it was used for several years in a place like Flint Michigan?