MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Steeplejerk]

Majority of the bells I've seen were cast at Whitechapel

[plaques]

The best link I can think of is that Roberts took over the Phoenix foundry in 1871. The bell may have been an exhibition piece. Later they made the steam engines for Queen St mill in Burnley and Bancroft mill in Barlick.

[Stanley]

The bell was in St Luke's Church at Brierfield and there is something very unusual about it, if not unique.

[Steeplejerk]

Has it got a square bottom

[Stanley]

No Tom, nothing to do with the shape. It has one very unusual characteristic. Clue, it's a bell made by an iron founder not a bell founder.

[Steeplejerk]

Cast iron rather than bell brass

[Stanley]

Exactly. You've got it Tom. Cast iron instead of bell metal. I suppose it might have sounded a bit different.....
Now we need a new object.....

[Stanley]

Can anyone tell me what it is?

[Stanley]

It's not easy, I won't let it linger long. Clue, you can still see it at Bancroft.

[PanBiker]

Looks like a differential to me but I don't know what for.

[Stanley]

Very close Ian. Where is as dirty as that at Bancroft?

[Stanley]

I'll give it until dinnertime....

[Stanley]

It's the automatic reversing gear on the Green's Economiser behind the Lancashire boiler. I used to love watching its clever mechanism which depended on the roller you can see overbalancing in the curved slot and kicking the gears into reverse at the end of each stroke. Evidently a forgotten corner.
Next object?

[Stanley]

Why so ornate and where is it?

[Wendyf]

Is it in Gisburne Park?

[Stanley]

It is Wendy, you are right! You're getting too good at this....
Now set us another one.....

[Stanley]

What was the original purpose of this building in Butts?

[PanBiker]

Mortuary

[Big Kev]

I'm with Ian on that

[Stanley]

Correct. I shall withdraw and think of another.....

[Stanley]

Where is it and what is notable about it?

[PanBiker]

Forgotten where it is unless it's Ellenroad. Isn't it one of the largest rope races that were built?

[Tripps]

Is it the one at Wigan 'Pier'? Trencherfield Mill.

[Stanley]

Sorry, neither of them and the unique point is not the rope race.
(Mind you, I think this was possible the widest flywheel ever......)

[Stanley]

Big clue.... You could always see snow from the top of the chimney.....