MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Pluggy]

Its a boiler steam pressure gauge, the running pressure of the boiler is 170 PSI. In my navy days, the safety valves lifted about 10 PSI above the line, but they worked at 550 PSI. It was commonly called the 'blood' line, and you were considered proficient at handling a boiler room when you could do 'a fast back down on the blood' . Basically maintaining steam pressure when the bridge suddenly decided to stop the ship when running at high power. Involved winding a lot of power off as they closed the throttles, and winding it back on when they opened the astern throttles and winding it all off again when the ship has stopped. Woe betide you if the 'safeties' lifted, it took you about 3 hours to replace the feed water it lost The stokers on the boiler faces had to work hard 'punching sprayers' to keep up. They were oil fired, I don't know how they'd do it with coal........

[Stanley]

You've got it. The safety lifted at 170psi exactly and yes, we didn't like it to happen because it wasted valuable steam. Now then, what's this?

[Pluggy]

[quote="Stanley"]You've got it. The safety lifted at 170psi exactly and yes, we didn't like it to happen because it wasted valuable steam. Now then, what's this?

Looks like theres a difference in operating procedures, in my days the red line was the pressure the machinery wanted and we kept the pressure on the line. The safeties lifted above the line.

I'd hazard a guess at a boiler sampling cock for the new picture. We had similar things with copper tail pipes we stuck buckets of water under to get a bucket of boiling water in 10 seconds flat.

[Stanley]

Sorry, no, we took water samples from the drains on the gauges. The difference with the red line on a mill engine compared to marine practice was because we varied the pressure according to load and conditions.

[chinatyke]

Is it an ejector? Used for drawing water into steam boilers and traction engines.

[StoneRoad]

Looks like a try cock to me.

Testing water levels on a lancashire type boiler when not fitted with a gauge glass.
(the Locomotion replica engine had some, IIRC)

[Stanley]

Sorry, nobody is there yet. Clue, look at the pressure gauge.....

[Stanley]

This one has died. It's the mounting for the pressure gauge and the tube at the bottom is a condensation trap to prevent water getting into the mechanism of the gauge. Try this one....

[David Whipp]

Lens for a ....?

[Pluggy]

Some form of oil seal ?

[Stanley]

I think David gets that one but it would be nice if someone could say what sort and what for.... Clue, it's very old and was very popular.

[David Whipp]

Think it's for a camera; could it be an early attachment for changing the focus? (Over to Kev!)

[Big Kev]

Think it's for a camera; could it be an early attachment for changing the focus? (Over to Kev!)

From what I can make out, in the text on the bit of paper, it's an add on for extending the focal length of a lens. From the size of it I'd guess it's from a TLR camera.

[David Whipp]

No sooner said than done!

If we've got it between us Stanley, I've got a puzzle (and I don't know the answer).

[Stanley]

You're near enough, it's a portrait attachment lens for an old Kodak Brownie '8' movie camera. Try this one, everyone has one but I reckon this is just about impossible to solve... Sorry!

[David Whipp]

Toilet roll.

[Big Kev]

You're near enough, it's a portrait attachment lens for an old Kodak Brownie '8' movie camera. Try this one, everyone has one but I reckon this is just about impossible to solve... Sorry!

Difficult to make out what it is; anything to do with cataracts?

[Stanley]

You're right, that was impossible. Here's a more comprehensive view of it.

[Big Kev]

Bathroom scales?

[Stanley]

Of course. you're right. Anyone got the next for shaving?

[David Whipp]

I know the where, but not the what.

Anyone know what and where?

[Stanley]

Don't know where it is but most likely a marker indicating the position of a stop tap for water supply.

[David Whipp]

I agree it's most likely a stop tap sign; it's on the wall at the Manchester Road end of Hodge Lane.

[Big Kev]

Hopefully this will get you guessing for a bit

[Stanley]

Medal for water polo?