MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Gloria]

Alcock and Brown flight??

[Stanley]

I think she's right (as usual!!)

[Tizer]

Right again, Gloria. Almost exactly 100 years ago John `Jack' Alcock and Arthur `Teddy' Brown made the first non-stop flight over the Atlantic, 1,890 miles in 15 hours and 57 minutes - and carrying Twinkletoes and Lucky Jim, the two cat toy mascots. Brown came from the posh Chorlton-cum-Hardy area of Manchester and Alcock from working class Fallowfield. There's lots of information about them, and photos, in this article: `Into the Unknown: The daredevils who flew across an ocean' by Dan Box, published on the BBC web site: LINK

[Stanley]

Brilliant Gloria, I would have been struggling without you.



Try this oldie.....

[Big Kev]

From the top of the Gateway Arch in St Louis?

[Stanley]

You are right Kev. Must put my thinking cap on!

[Stanley]

Can anyone tell me what this is?

[Tizer]

Does it represent the offices of a company in their field of operations?

[Stanley]

No but it's company related.

[chinatyke]

Is it a fire insurance plaque that used to be put on buildings to indicate they were covered?

[Stanley]

No but you are in the general area. Try to make out the lettering on it..... enough is clear to give a clue.

[chinatyke]

I can make out Philadelphia, Melbourne, Nurenberg, Berlin, Wien(Vienna?), on the left side. It doesn't help me but may help someone else.

[Stanley]

Vital clue! Why a list of major cities like that?

[Tizer]

Are they twinned cities, left and right side?
Though they aren't clear, I'm guessing the ones on the right might be Amsterdam, Chicago, Moscow, Paris...?

[Stanley]

Think, where have you seen lists of major cities like this before? A very popular route to PR in times gone by.....

[chinatyke]

A shipping company plaque? Wells Fargo?

[Stanley]

You're tantalisingly close China. Concentrate on the city names. Another big clue, think about medals......

[chinatyke]

I'm stumped. Last guess: Is it a plaque from a bank storage vault door?

[Gloria]

Olympic Games??

[Whyperion]

World"s Fair or International Trades Union?

[Stanley]

You're not going to get it..... but were getting very close! You couldn't be expected to know it was originally off a German railway carriage but I thought you might have picked up on the cities. Remember the labels on old goods that boasted about the awards they had won for their products at international trade exhibitions or Royal Warrants? That's what is going on here. I was told that there were originally two cast iron labels, this one and another with the name of the manufacturer. So all it is in the end is their coat of arms and a list of awards..... Old fashioned advertising.....
Next one?

[chinatyke]

... it was originally off a German railway carriage ...

Where was Stoneroad when you needed him!

[Stanley]

[Gloria]

What can anyone tell me about this? Where is it?

image.png

[Stanley]

No, but I like it!