MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Yes Kev, exactly right. A new mantle for a Tilley Lamp.



Closely related.... What is this?

[Stanley]

No takers?
(No help from Google Images? )

[Stanley]

It's connected to a different light source..... Any cavers amongst you?

[Gloria]

Is it part of a carbide lamp?

[Stanley]

Well done Gloria! Spot on. It's the spare carbide container you used to carry in case the one in use ran out. You could always find the water of course, in extremis you simply peed in it!
Wonderful, I shall go and look for the next one.

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Stanley]

You've seen it before..... Early automation.....

[Stanley]

No takers? I'll give it until dinnertime....

[Gloria]

No idea, sorry.

[Stanley]

It was clockwork Gloria.... Does that help?

[Gloria]

Nope, not a clue.

[Big Kev]

A clockwork movement from an old gas lamp?

[Stanley]

Yes Kev. Well done, that wasn't on Google.... You remembered.
Now we need another object!

[Stanley]

What is it? This is difficult I shan't leave it up for long.

[Stanley]

I'm not surprised that there are no offers. These anonymous black lumps are fragments of the solidified sealant used by John Petrie's engineers when they installed the engine originally at the CWS blanket works. I had to separate the cylinder from the valve chest when I moved the engine form the Holcroft Foundry to Ellenroad. I tried high and low but nobody knew what it was. It has set almost as hard as cast iron and can be drilled and tapped.
My best guess is that it's a mixture of fine cast iron borings and double boiled linseed oil.
When I rebuilt the engine a made a paste of Manganesite and ceramic fibre. It seems to have worked, there has never been any leakage. One of these days someone will have to work all this out again..... I hope they have the sense to read my description of building the Whitelees. If they don't they are in trouble!



What is it?