first of all....thanks so much for your comments. I do appreciate all your knowledge and experience with brewing to help me figure out what all this fermintor can do. I'll try and address each of your replies to my post below. I did add the additional pictures to the following flickr web link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39695979@N03/sets/72157625180094849/1) Yes the fermintor is alluminum. It's very dirty. I was told it sat in a garage for over a year. No galvanized steel. It's pure alluminum.
2) The Thermostate is puzzeling. I have no idea how this is suppose to work. There doens't appear to be any type of electrical plug for it to be powered. I don't understnad why there is a dial for temperature if there is no power or refridgeration or heat solution that would help the thermostate control the temp. I took a few more pic's (CIMG0148, CIMG0150, CIMG0151, CIMG0152) to highlight the thermostate, the external connectors and the internal probe inside the fermintor.
3) Pitures CIMGO153 and CIMGO154 are the two copper fixtures that come out of the side of the fermentor. This appears to be some type of heat exchange system. I did not get any type of heat exchanger with the fermintor. Does anyone have any links or information about what type of heat exchanger should be used with these fittings?
4) on the top of fermintor lid there are two additional fittings (refer to CIMG0148, CIMG0147) to see these more clearly than previous shots. I can't tell if these are pressure relief valves or not. How do they work? Does a "bubbler" need to be put on one of them, or do they just releas pressure at a certain value? I'm rather puzzled by the use of them.
Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. I knew I could count on the brewing community to point m in the right direction.