MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Cathy]

It reminds me of one of those knuckle buster type of tools that you see up high on the buses to break the glass in an emergency, but I don't think they have a point on the end.

[chinatyke]

I like the Captain Kirk's phaser suggestion. I'm going to go for a small soldering iron.

[Stanley]

Sorry none of you has it but electrical is a good route.....

[Gloria]

Cattle prodder??

[Big Kev]

Voltmeter?

[Cathy]

Looks a bit awkward but is it an engraver?

[Whyperion]

Gas stove lighter?

[Stanley]

Kev is getting very warm, in fact he's almost there!

[chinatyke]

I remember now, we've seen it before! It's for testing vehicle batteries and is applied across the terminals. I've seen them used but never taken much notice.

[chinatyke]

Something we all use indirectly but what is it?

[Stanley]

Good Lad China, you've got it! A high capacity battery tester. No good on modern batteries with hidden cell connections, it was for testing single lead acid cells. You applied it and noted how the voltage reacted to a heavy short circuit discharge at very high amperage.



As for yours China..... I don't know what it is for certain. It's old, electrical and could be an early rectifier AC to DC.

[chinatyke]

Sorry, nothing to do with electric, nor is it old. The object of interest is the shiny pointed thing-a-mi.

[Tizer]

Is it an important bit in the workings of a microwave oven?

[plaques]

China, I must admit I had to look it up therefore ....

► Show Spoiler

Link .

and that's something else I've learnt to do.

[chinatyke]

Is it an important bit in the workings of a microwave oven?

No. It is much bigger. It weighs at least a few hundred pounds but that isn't a clue.

I can see why Stanley thought it was to do with high powered electric circuits, perhaps a mercury switch/rectifier, but he is at the wrong end of the scale!

P - you are correct. How do you look up photographs?

[plaques]

How do you look up photographs?

China, I'm just going to blow another myth that I've a good memory. It doesn't always work though.
First open Two separate Google pages. One with say the OG mystery object on it and the other with Google images. In the Image search box click the camera icon. Move back to your Mystery object and click and drag it into the image search box. Don't worry that this is now in your bottom tray as you move down it will automatically open the image page back up. Drop your image into the space. With a bit of luck Bob's your Uncle.

[Wendyf]

Here's a photo of a wall in a lovely garden in Smelthouses, Nidderdale. There was a purpose to the recesses in the wall.... does anyone know what it was?

[Stanley]

Thanks P. Now we know it is a single crystal, a boule....
Wendy, were they for bees?

[Wendyf]

Oops sorry, sneaked mine in a bit early before the last one had finished. I read the spoiler and then forgot it was a spoiler......

[Tizer]

Plaques, thanks for that, I knew about the production of large silicon crystals for the semiconductor industry but didn't know they were called boules and had never seen an example. Sometimes crystals break and in my mineral collection I have a lump of silicon which is I believe came from such waste.

Wendy, did the holes act as slots for large horizontal beams?

[chinatyke]

First open Two separate Google pages. One with say the OG mystery object on it and the other with Google images. In the Image search box click the camera icon. Move back to your Mystery object and click and drag it into the image search box. Don't worry that this is now in your bottom tray as you move down it will automatically open the image page back up. Drop your image into the space. With a bit of luck Bob's your Uncle.

Thanks P. I'll try it out later but Google is crippled in China.

Wow, just tried it and it tells me Wendy's image is: (best guess) wall.

Yes, pretty neat though, it comes up with very similar images. And I've learned to do something new. Thanks.

[Stanley]

If not bees, another possible use for the niches in the wall is for dovecotes but they look too big for that.

[Wendyf]

You were right Stanley they are bee boles, used up to the late nineteenth century when modern hives were invented. Each recess held a skep and gave protection from the weather.

[Stanley]

An easy one for you.... The gable end of Hey Farm after the new owners stripped the years of render off revealing the original 17th century stone work. What are the holes for in the top of the gable end?

[Tizer]

Pigeon loft?