MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

You've given up. If there are no offers this morning I shall come clean.

[Gloria]

I only know this as a looked on t'internet.
First bicycle land speed record attempt by Charli Murphy in USA 1899, he drafted a steam engine at speeds up to 60mph.

[Stanley]

You've got it Gloria, Charles Minthorn Murphy.
Many more such assisted records since.... Nowadays behind cars but then the railway was the most reliable source of speed.
Next one?

[Gloria]

What is this

image.jpeg

[Stanley]

Archaeological find. What are they?

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria we crossed. Yours first!

[Gloria]

I don't think mine will last long at all.

[PanBiker]

Glo's - Micrometer.

[Gloria]

Glo's - Micrometer.

Spot on 0 to 1. That didn't last long

[PanBiker]

Stanley's look like bones repurposed, maybe for making rope?

Or are they wood and recovered from a sunken ship or longboat?

[plaques]

I'll go for PanBiker's rope making.

Rope making blocks. Three strands of fibre would be drawn through the holes while some rotary mechanism would twist them together.

[Stanley]

You lot are getting far too good! Exactly right Ian, or at least, that's the accepted explanation. Must have a think!

[Stanley]

There is a specific name for this mechanism in miller's terms. What is it and what does it do?

[Stanley]

Come on! This is easy, educative and perfect anti-lockdown blues material!

[Bodger]

Wiggler ?, , i know from past work places odd name are given by the workers to certain objects / places , one place i worked in ground shale to a fine powder with rollers and pan to make clay, the area it was in was called the "smut hole "

[Stanley]

No Bodge but you are on the right track and very close!

[chinatyke]

It is a shoe and is used to control the flow of grain into the millstones. The shoe was often vibrated by a 'damsel' for a steadier rate of feed. I used to go to James Bowman's flour mill in Hitchin once a month but the technology was much more modern.

[Stanley]

'Damsel' was exactly what I was after China. Well done, not many people know that!
Next one?

[Stanley]

Where was I?

[Gloria]

Bottom of a chimney somewhere??

[Stanley]

Yes, tell me where....

[Gloria]

No idea, Bancroft? Queen St? Somewhere over Rochdale way?

[Stanley]

Try Rochdale....

[Gloria]

Harp Mill, Arkwright Mill, Old Mill, I'm just googling and guessing now?

[Stanley]

Gloria, you have a blind spot! Much more obvious than that!