MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Gloria]

Is it something to do with rope making?

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria, no.

[Big Kev]

For castrating something?

[Stanley]

No Kev, nothing to do with castration. Clue.... Could cause some some pain.....

[Steeplejerk]

For pulling teeth

[Stanley]

Correct Tom! Dental forceps.
Next object?

[Tizer]

What is shown in this photo...

[Stanley]

A puzzle!

[Steeplejerk]

Mouth pieces for a brass wind instrument

[Stanley]

Yes! Well done Tom, I'm sure he's got it!

[Tizer]

Yes, Tom, well done. But these are special - what `wind instrument' do you think they came from and where was it in use?

[Stanley]

Swiss postal service? (The weirdest one I can think of.....)

[Tizer]

Not so weird, you are getting close (in function but not in geography!)

[Steeplejerk]

Bugle at rorkes drift (no idea)

[Tizer]

The Swiss postal service symbol is a post horn so Stanley is close except these mouth pieces are from a straight, trumpet-shaped post horn as used to signal the arrival or departure of a post rider or mail coach. It was used by postilions of the 18th and 19th centuries. The mouth pieces in my pic are in the Carriage Museum at Arlington Court in Devon. So, well done Stanley! (And by the way, if any of you ever go near Barnstaple, Devon, Arlington Court is definitely worth a visit).

[Stanley]

Good God! How did that happen?

[Stanley]

What are we looking at?

[Big Kev]

Boiler tubes?

[Stanley]

Correct Kev, I thought it might not be that easy but evidently I was wrong! Next object?

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Big Kev]

Is it the hinge on a pair of pliers?

[Stanley]

You're right about it being a hinge but on something older than a pair of pliers Kev and there is something special about it..... Can you tell me what thaT WAS?

[Tizer]

Is it part of a weapon, such as a cross bow?

[Stanley]

No Peter, Kev was right in his choice of a hinge. As a matter of fact it's in a pair of blacksmith made sugar cutters.... But there is something quite unique about how the hinge is formed. What is it?