MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

This one seems to have stalled. It is of course the latest version of the bus shelter at the end of Station Road.



Can anyone remember what this is?

[chinatyke]

This one seems to have stalled. It is of course the latest version of the bus shelter at the end of Station Road.

Even I knew that! Perhaps it was too obvious for people to guess?

[Tizer]

Stanley's picture: this year's party conference venue for the LibDems?

[Stanley]

Clue, it's in Barlick and Co-op related.....

[Pluggy]

A room in the old Co-op building before it was demolished ?

Unlikely to be specific enough I feel.

[PanBiker]

Co-Op No1

[Stanley]

Ian has it but not the specific. However I'm not going to drag it out. This is the old bakery in the building in Cooperative Street, now converted to flats. The ovens are behind the curtains on the wall.
Next one?

[Tizer]

What's this all about, and when?

[Stanley]

Obviously Lyme Regis. It looks like an Austin 3 tonner and the trace of white paint on the mudguard edge suggests WW2 but as it is wearing off, possibly shortly after. Looks like an old hand pump on the flat bed behind them and most likely part of the procession in a town gala. I have no idea why they are wearing frocks!
So I'll go for Lyme Regis town gala in 1946.

[Tizer]

Yes, but the reason for it is not the Town Gala and your year is a bit out.

[PanBiker]

The fire tender following the pickup looks like a 1932 Dennis

[Tizer]

That would fit with regard to dates, they kept their vehicles longer in those days! But why would they be parading like that when it's not a time for a gala?

[PanBiker]

Is it to celebrate the formation of the NFS in 1938 from individual municipal and council run brigades?

Just going off dates, no idea why they are dressed as they are.

[Stanley]

Or the return to municipal ownership after the war?

[Tizer]

I think the suggestions have got near enough and I'd be picky to keep asking you for more. It's a parade through the streets of Lyme Regis in 1941 as part of the `War Weapons' attempt to raise money for the the British military campaigns. Similar things went on in other towns of course. Perhaps the Lyme Regis firemen thought it was very daring to put a frock over their trousers. On the other hand, young people of today might be surprised how common it was for men to dress as women for fun or for theatre in `the old days'!

[PanBiker]

Barlick had three fund raising events such as that one for each service arm during the war. I featured them in the research thread for the war memorial when I was reading the local papers for missing service personnel from our memorial. Unfortunately the original thread is lost now on the archive site. The town raised huge amounts of money during each of the fund raisers. We were awarded plaques for our efforts which used to be displayed in the Town Hall but have since been lost.

The Search for Barlicks WWII Fund Raising Plaques

[Stanley]

That's how we got the tank that used to sit on a plinth in Letcliffe Park. Try this one....

[chinatyke]

Thermometer case seen from the rear?

[Stanley]

No China, sorry. Very common item in many houses, particularly in kitchens.

[Gloria]

Kitchen roll dispenser??

[Wendyf]

A spring balance?

[Tizer]

I think Wendy has got it right...one of those spring balances with a hook that you can hang things on.

[PanBiker]

I would agree on spring balance as well, Salter?

[Stanley]

Wendy is spot on and yes, it's a Salter 28lb balance.



Next one?

[PanBiker]

Hooke's Law, "the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the applied load".