MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Not a 'gin'. This is short for engine and was the early name applied to any piece of machinery. Essential element was moving parts. Colloquial name for anything you can hook onto for a lift is a 'skyhook'. Jib, bracket, or possibly in the early days even teagle. Try this oldie....

[Cathy]

No idea what it is but I can see myself using it when hanging out the washing... place it onto the line, garment on clothes hanger, thread hanger hook through hole, no movement and all secure... job done

[Bodger]

similar but different
http://www.ereplacementparts.com/#img_popup

[Bodger]

Whoops, it was supposed to be a pic of a woodruff key
http://www.google.ie/imgres?sa=X&biw=10 ... =8&ndsp=16

[plaques]

Milk bottle cover, complete with hole for straw.?

[Stanley]

Nobody is anywhere near yet. One was mentioned on the site not long ago..... Only two inches wide...

[Wendyf]

Is it a shepherd's whistle?

[David Whipp]

Agree with Wendy.

[Stanley]

You're a good woman Wendy, exactly right. Stainless steel and lives in my right hand trouser pocket. Now, try this one.....

[Gloria]

Some sort of weight? maybe for a pulley of some sort???

[Stanley]

I can see how you got to that Glo but not right. More technical......

[David Whipp]

Drill bit case?

[Stanley]

No, it's solid forged steel.

[Gloria]

Is it a tooth off something?

[Bodger]

The pic. indicates it is tapered, this leads me to think of cotter pins or a key for locking something on to a shaft

[PanBiker]

Main flywheel from the engine?

[Stanley]

Bodge has got it near enough by mentioning the magic word 'cotter'. It's the old cotter from the end of the LP piston rod on Bancroft engine that was badly fitted when the engine was new and for years gave an annoying thump on that side. 1979. Here's the new cotter in place after the engine stopped.



Try this one. The body is about 2" diameter....

[Big Kev]

Is it a chuck, for small stuff, that's then fitted into the bigger chuck on a lathe?

[Pluggy]

[quote="Stanley"]Bodge has got it near enough by mentioning the magic word 'cotter'. It's the old cotter from the end of the LP piston rod on Bancroft engine that was badly fitted when the engine was new and for years gave an annoying thump on that side. 1979. Here's the new cotter in place after the engine stopped.




It knocked for 50 odd years and was replaced only few years before the mill closed ?

[Stanley]

Yes Pluggy. I was the first bloke to identify what was wrong. Even Newton had been fooled over the years. We put new cotters in each rod and cured the thump.
Kev has got it. Never quite understood the need for it or how it works but that's what I think it is too.
Anyone got the next one?

[LizG]

Is it for putting a new thread on something?

[Stanley]

I don'r think that's the primary purpose Liz, I'm going to do a bit of digging and see if I can get a bit further.

[David Whipp]

[plaques]

I don't think that's the primary purpose Liz, I'm going to do a bit of digging and see if I can get a bit further.

At the time I wondered if it was a capstan lathe attachment. Set on the turret to turn a specific diameter.
David's object. A giant greenfly? Why, when, what for, I've no idea.

[Pluggy]

Giant Insect made by a local school ? Wild guess.......