MYSTERY OBJECTS

[plaques]

We have something similar scattered about the Lancashire countryside. When I was taking some German friends round showing them some of our local beauty spots they asked what these little concrete boxes were for. I told them they were there to repulse any invading Panzer divisions LINK.that might come our way. They just rolled about laughing.

[Tizer]

These certainly weren't intended to stop Panzer divisions. I think you need to consider more closely why there are two separate bits to the pillbox. A bit of creative thinking needed.

[Stanley]

Roof section could be raised and lowered?

[Tizer]

Correct Stanley. There's an inner and an outer part and you can see that the inner can be raised. Some pillboxes were made like that so that they could be hidden. This one was like that for a different reason - what do you think that might be? Clue: it was originally on an airfield.

[Pluggy]

First cousin to :

?

[Stanley]

Clearance for wide loads on Queen Mary trailers coming in during the war?

[plaques]

Clue: it was originally on an airfield.

A pure guess. First dismissing a silo for Gold Fingers rocket launcher or even a secret entry to the treacle mines. Could it have been for housing semi pre-inflated barrage balloons? or perhaps just the cable?

[Tizer]

Wrong Plaques. Stanley has got close, and close enough I think for me to say he's got it sussed. The ability to retract the pillbox was, as he's noted, to give clearance. But it was on an airfield and placed alongside the runways and the clearance was for aircraft to taxi by without any danger of them damaging their wings on it. So it could be in the lowered position normally but could be raised if the airfield was under attack. I suspect the main reason for its presence was in case of paratroop attack. Next please?

[Gloria]

[album][/album]
These are obviously scissors of some type, but what were they used for. We don't know. We found these when we moved here on what had been a working farm. They are old, very sharp and quite heavy. Any ideas?

[Tizer]

Perhaps they were used for cutting the chicken wire used to fence hen pens etc. Or animal skins.

[Gloria]

The pointy blade is the sharp one which comes upwards. The blunt ended comes downward and is also sharp. We've just cut some rubber matting with them and they were very sharp. Obviously a very good "job o'purpose'. They fit your hand very well. They are ancient and we've never touched them until today, and we've been here 16 yrs.
is "sharp" my word for the day????

[Stanley]

Gloria, I think they are a pair of dressmakers shears that had had one blade broken and been reground. If not that the shortened blades would mean more leverage on the cut so it suggests they were for cutting tough stuff like leather. So, harness-maker's scissors?

[Gloria]

Definitely not been shortened. They are similar to decorators shears so could have been used for leather, they would certainly cut it, as they have stayed amazingly sharp. Your whole hand fits in the lower handle (apart from thumb) so must have needed strong pressure, and they feel really well balanced and comfortable in the hand.

[Stanley]

Then my guess is harness maker's shears.....

[Gloria]

Think you may be right Stanley, put them on in the hope someone would recognise them.

[Stanley]

Next for shaving?

[Pluggy]

Some members will probably know what this is.....

[Wendyf]

Er...the "you are not authorized to view this image" notice?

[Pluggy]

Working now ?

Stupid owner of the board doesn't know how the gallery works....

[Wendyf]

Ah good! Well it's the corner of a PCB, but I don't know what it's from.

[PanBiker]

Is it a Raspberry Pi by any chance?

[Pluggy]

Nope, nothing to do with a Raspberry Pi.

It is a PCB of sorts. The hole and notches are the clue.

[Cathy]

What is a PCB??

[Bodger]

I cannot see any scale for reference but is it a device for measuring bra. size ?

[Pluggy]

For scale the width of the picture is around 20mm or 3/4" , so, no its not for measuring bra size.

A PCB is a printed circuit board.