MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria, no. But you are broadly on the right lines...

[plaques]

I think you gave us a big clue when you mentioned cracking in another post. Brunel use hot riveting machines on a number of his suspension bridges. This technique didn't introduce cracking like welding tends to do.

[Tizer]

It's the Royal Albert Bridge at Plymouth. Is the reason the combination of the tubular top trusses and the chain bottom trusses? There was no outward force on the piers. Brunel had to use a design that allowed for the two approaches being curved.

[Stanley]

Sorry Tiz but P has read my mind successfully. He is exactly right. Hot riveting of the top tubes didn't induce temperature gradient cracking like welding can. The cure for the latter is improved procedures and advanced metallic processing. Riveting could cope with even variable quality iron and steel. The material in the Royal Albert Bridge would be wrought iron plate which is weaker but more ductile and forgiving. The weakness was addressed by using thicker plate. The present day weight restrictions on the bridge are a product of the design not the materials.
In the days of steam the heavy King class of locomotives were changed for the lighter Castle class before crossing the bridge, they weighed ten tons less.
Next one?

[Stanley]

What can you tell me about this image....

[Tizer]

The 1900 Barlick men's hockey team?

[Stanley]

Nice one Tiz but wrong. Look at what they are all holding and supporting......

[chinatyke]

Treacle miners coming up for air?

[Stanley]

Come on China! Look hard, you know this one!

[chinatyke]

Only thing I can think of is that they were pounding something, like compacting hardcore and earth for wall foundations, but one chap (2nd from left) is holding a double ended open loop thingie that I've no idea about.

[Stanley]

I think that's for holding a crucible while pouring hot metal China and of no immediate interest. Look at what's laid on the floor to the right of the men and then think hammers. I've just about given it to you!

[chinatyke]

My first thought was that they were casting something and this would fit in with the crucible holder but I don't know anything about foundries. Sorry, I'll bow out and leave it to the engineers.

[Stanley]

Think hammers!!

[Gloria]

Are they laying cobbles?

[Stanley]

No Gloria. Look at what's laid on the floor to the right. BIG CLUE, how many handles does a hammer usually have?

[plaques]

Looks a bit like the multiple handle things are profile formers to bend rails or girders round. The others with the more conventional hammers 'tap' the rails into shape.

[Stanley]

For some reason nobody is seeing the obvious, probably my fault. It's actually dead simpl,e. I shall see if anyone gets basic, like looking at the size of the hammers!

[Big Kev]

Multi handled hammers because they are too heavy for one person to swing?

[Tizer]

They are in demolition, smashing up iron objects to feed back into a furnace and make new cast iron.

[chinatyke]

The things on the floor could be square links I suppose so making chains for ships or other very heavy duties?
The crucible holder thingy could be for carrying big rivets so are they the gang that closes the rivets?

[Big Kev]

The things on the floor could be square links I suppose so making chains for ships or other very heavy duties?
The crucible holder thingy could be for carrying big rivets so are they the gang that closes the rivets?

I reckon you're on it with the chain making

[Gloria]

Anchor chains?

[Stanley]

I think I chose a very bad object (or a very good one!). You are all circling round the answer I was looking for, getting close but not close enough.
They are workers in an iron forge making items like the very heavy loops on the floor and could have worked on anchor chains. What I was looking for was the fact that they were forging by hand using sledgehammers. In the picture there is one double handled hammer (It's spherical which is the first I have ever seen). I have only ever seen one double handled hammer, a 56lb sledge. There is also an even bigger one with three handles, obviously heavier than 56lb. It was those multi handled hammers that I was after, particularly the three handed one, the first I have ever seen. God knows how they managed them. Hard men!
Next one?

[Stanley]

There's a hush in the close......

[Gloria]

There's a hush in the close......

We were all in bed