MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Tizer]

Panbiker and Plaques have got the central idea. The caption to the graphic is: `A diagram of Franklin bells, as printed in George Adams' Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, published in the 18th Century.' The apparatus was originally designed to demonstrate electric charge when coupled to a Leyden jar. It's considered to be the first device that converted electrical energy into mechanical energy in the form of continuous mechanical motion, in this case, the moving of a bell clapper back and forth between two oppositely charged bells. The name Franklin bells comes from Benjamin Franklin using the apparatus to give warning of approaching thunderstorms, but it was Andrew Gordon who invented them around 1742 to demonstrate electric charge with the Leyden jar.

In the apparatus shown the outer bells hang from conductive metal chains while the central bell and the two metal clappers hang from non-conductive threads. The central bell is linked to the inner surface of the Leyden jar, while the outside surface is linked to the metal stand. The hanging clappers are attracted to a bell, touch it and pick up its charge, are repelled and thus swing to the other bell, and so on, backwards and forwards.

A fancy modern version is shown here: LINK

and a simpler version here: LINK

[Stanley]

That was a good one!

[Stanley]

Try this one.....

[Stanley]

Earth to One Guy...... Are you receiving me?

[David Whipp]

Adjustable tool holder...

[Stanley]

You're almost there David! Now have another look.... why is there a star wheel on the end of the lead screw?

[David Whipp]

err... to adjust position very precisely?

[Stanley]

I'm going to give it you David, it's a bit esoteric. The object is as you say for holding a cutting tool. It was mounted on the face plate of the lathe and the object that was to have a flat face milled on it was mounted on the saddle. The cutting head was arranged so that each time the face plate completed a revolution a peg mounted on the lathe bed struck the star wheel and advanced the tool one quarter of a turn of the lead screw. You never see them used now but in its day it was a clever solution.
Next for shaving?

[Stanley]

All right, I give in! Try this one.....

[Big Kev]

All right, I give in! Try this one.....

Castration tool?

[Stanley]

You're in the right ball park but no cigar Kev..... It's farming related.

[LizG]

For trimming hooves?

[chinatyke]

Tagging the ears of cattle?

[Tizer]

You're in the right ball park...

Haha, very funny!

[Stanley]

That was accidental Tiz but you're right..... You are all very close, I'll give it one more day.... Think pigs!

[Tizer]

Cutting tails, pulling teeth or grabbing the pig by the nose?

[Wendyf]

Putting a nose ring in...?

[Stanley]

Wendy has got it! Pliers for putting in the small copper rings in the gristle at the top of the snout to discourage rooting. They didn't always work!
Next one?

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Cathy]

A fallen log?

[Stanley]

Dead right Cathy but can you hazard where? Clue, it was exceptional, it was measured at over 56,000 board feet. Enough to keep a big saw mill going for the day.

[chinatyke]

Sequoia? California?

[Tizer]

Washington State, USA?

[Stanley]

Tiz has it right, it's one of Kinsey's images of logging up there. Try this one....



What can you tell me about this image?

[Bodger]

He could be the GUY that drove a truck selling Carborundum