MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Ian has it right. It's a very expensive packing case I had made to send two engines to Oz for Margaret and Janet but the customs wanted A$2,000 duty so it is now the Memorial Toilet Roll store in the bathroom! Here's an oldie to start the New Year.... Clue, it's made of bronze.....

[chinatyke]

Chain from a chain wrench and made of bronze so that it is spark proof and can be used in flameproof areas?

[Stanley]

Ingenious China but not correct. It's not easy, clue, there is a maritime connection.....

[Tizer]

Does it perform a function similar to the chain used to grip and unscrew an oil filter on a car engine?

[chinatyke]

I seem to remember we've had this before. Was it something to do with the chain that went from the bridge telegraph to the engine room repeater thingy-ma-bob?

[Tizer]

Maritime connection...mmm...the chain off the captain's bicycle?

[plaques]

the chain that went from the bridge telegraph to the engine room repeater

Captain Smith here. Can you slip it into reverse a bit smartish.
Chief Engineer. What for? we'll never get to New York with all this playing about.
Captain, Just spotted an iceberg about 50 yards away.
Chief, Time to come on deck then.
Captain, Sorry all bulkhead doors closed. See you down there.
Chief. I'll wrap this chain round your neck, if not I'll post it to Stanley and he'll keep putting it on Mystery Objects year after year so people will never forget.
Captain, You win.

[chinatyke]

[Stanley]

China got it exactly, it came off a Liberty Ship that went down off Skye in WW2.
Next for shaving?

[Marilyn]

I've been looking about, but found nothing to submit Stanley.
Eyes peeled. Maybe I shall find something soon...
( I am on the hunt)

[Stanley]

Tell me about it Maz! That's why I go back in the archive to find oldies.... Try this one..... Incidentally the steel rule is a bit of a curiosity. By Chesterman and calibrated in 10ths and 12ths of an inch....

[Cathy]

It's a guillotine.

[Stanley]

Close Cathy but no cigar!

[chinatyke]

Is it a punch for ledger pages?

[Stanley]

Exactly right China. It's adjustable for any configuration of three holes. There's a story behind it.... In the 80s I was in Montreal with Susi and we took a trip one day down into NY state to Lake Placid which had just been the venue for the Winter Olympics. They were having a big sale of all the surplus supplies left over from the games. You could get official Olympic toilet rolls, cutlery, you name it. As we wandered round looking at what was on offer I saw this punch for £1. In those days baggage allowances weren't a big problem so I bought it. Possibly the only souvenir from Lake Placid in Barlick!
Try this one that Liz sent me. Some of you will know what it is straight away. Keep stum and let the others attempt to give a full description including location!

[Wendyf]

I think I can guess..look how clean it is!! More polished than the one in my bathroom.....

[Cathy]

Hint... It's not Liz's.

[Stanley]

I thought that as well Wendy. One of these reclamation yards would bite your arm off for it. Very popular again these days evidently....

[LizG]

Hint... It's not Liz's.

Should I be offended Cathy? Are you implying that my bath isn't as clean and polished?

You would probably be correct!! This one is beautiful.

[Cathy]

No no Liz, Stanley referred to the pic as being sent by you.

[LizG]

[Wendyf]

Is it what's known as an allotment in Australia?

[Marilyn]

Makes a perfect allotment and it is "choc-a-block" just now. ( rhubarb going great guns)
When that's had its day, some of the herbs and rhubarb will be relocated as we have plans to plant something small like a box hedge arrangement in there and clip it to the shape of a reclining woman taking a bath. That should turn a few heads once it is established.
It was a wonderful bath...I jumped into it like a 2 year old every morning...but being heavy cast iron it was freezing cold above the waterline...so I bathed without touching the sides.
Weighs a ton! ( trust me...I helped lift it out the patio doors and into its location)
But I prefer my beautiful big modern "egg" of a bath, which is just as huge.
( the gold feet on the old one were a bit over the top, and it was a bother to clean under. New one sits flat on the floor)

[Tizer]

The Cornish version....

[Stanley]

We're hard in Barlick, we go up on to the moor in all weathers..... Can anyone tell me where they are?