MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Whyperion]

close , not lift shaft so far as i am informed (indeed the station it is at didnt have lifts) but a bit more reasoning on the materials used and when installed. I assume too there are at least two , possible four of these.

[Big Kev]

Part of anti flood doors for tunnels under the Thames? Installed in case of a bomb hit during WW2?

[Stanley]

Dumb waiter?

[Whyperion]

It is described as part of the door mechanism indeed. It is strange as most of the anti-flood doors at tunnel ends are rather substantial steel ones and I would have guessed dumb waiter too ! also this was claimed on the caption to be the NORTH End of the SOUTHBOUND Northern Line tunnel at Charing Cross Station (Now called Embankment Station) . Which is sort of the wrong end if one thinks the thames will get hit unless the plan was to sacrifice the tube station. Unless - and it didnt make it clear - there is another lost London river running down/under Villers Street - which is likely given the Thameside was just about up to Strand prior to the Embankment Closing OR the station is somewhat more under the the thames than one might think - also the embankment (Victoria) carries a pair (one?) Sewers along it too with the District Line getting its route for near free just over the top of them.

However while you might think the answer is money for old rope can you inform me of the final detail of the image and why that particular material was chosen

[Big Kev]

Does it swell when it gets wet?

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Whyperion]

Does it swell when it gets wet?

I assume so , I dont know if exact properties of the material - if any of our science experts can help , I would have used hemp like on a boat but maybe that material is unsuitable for the location ?

[Gloria]

A flash bulb from an old camera?

[Stanley]

No Gloria but that is so close I am going to give it you because you identified it was a vintage camera accessory. It's actually an improved viewfinder for a Box Brownie camera.
Now we need another object I shall have a furtle.....

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Cathy]

I was going to say that it could be a piece of coral, but I don’t know what that length sticking out could be.
It doesn’t look like the right roundness to be a flower.

[Wendyf]

A bundle of pipe cleaners?

[Stanley]

Wendy got it Cathy...... I shall have to find another object....

[Wendyf]

I loved making little animals and dolls from pipe cleaners when I was a child. A bundle that big would have provided hours of fun!

[Stanley]

What is the caption for this famous WW1 cartoon?

[Stanley]

No takers? It was a very famous cartoon, Look up cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather and his character Old Bill.

[Big Kev]

Well, if you knows of a better 'ole, go to it"

[Stanley]

Well done Kev, that's what I had in mind.
Now we need another object......

[Stanley]

What are they?

[Tripps]

To do with measuring feet - in inches of course.

A lot safer than using an instore X-ray machine

[Stanley]

Quite right David. The back one is American and the front one is very old and I rescued it from the destruction of our central Co-operative store in the 80s.
The thing that struck me was the list of sizes along the edge. I think they are clog sizes.



An illustration from an educative article in and old copy of Boy's Own. But what is it?

[Gloria]

Are they making bricks?

[Stanley]

yes Gloria but there is something special about them. What is the material for making them?

[Gloria]

Clay with ash or sand?

[Stanley]

No Gloria, look at the drawing, it's liquid.....