MYSTERY OBJECTS

[plaques]

I'm sure Gloria will dig out the history of the Pelton wheel. The one shown is a double row of cups which are driven by jets of water. The shape of the cups suggests there is some element of axial impeller action to increase the overall efficiency, I seem to remember that some designs had a separate axial to take advantage of the water flow.

[Gloria]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelton_wheel

[Stanley]

Yes, that's the first part of the question, it's a Pelton Wheel. Well done Gloria, but what about the inspiration for it?

[Gloria]

Was it Leonardo di Vinci?

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria but no. More practical than that.

[Gloria]

Don’t know.

[Wendyf]

I had no idea until I looked it up but Mr Pelton turned a hose on a cow to stop her disturbing his gold panning operations. The water hit her cup shaped nostrils and threw her head back which inspired him to design the turbine.

[Stanley]

Exactly right Wendy and the ironic thing is that if you look at the Wiki page Gloria put up as an answer and skim down to the sources you'll find a link to the original news report on the story. 'The cow that assisted science'.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelton_wheel)
Next one?

[Gloria]

That’ll teach me to read down the page.

[plaques]

I would have thought that a jet of water up your nose or any other orifice would make you throw your head back. Sounds a bit like he's trying to create another Newton (Isaac) myth.

[Stanley]

Cynic!!!

[Stanley]

What is it? (It's about 40" overall length.)

[PanBiker]

DDT or other chemical sprayer.

[Big Kev]

Vacuum cleaner?

[Wendyf]

I'm with Kev, an early vacuum cleaner.

[Big Kev]

Aye, looks like some sort of bellow on the cylinder. A wireless vacuum cleaner

[Marilyn]

Australian I think...

[Stanley]

Kev was first I think. Yes, a hand operated vacuum cleaner. From what I understand, not very practical!
Next one?

[Stanley]

What's going on here?

[PanBiker]

I know but I had to Google it.

[Stanley]

I'd never heard of the custom either. Let's see how it goes....

[Stanley]

It doesn't look as though it's going anywhere Ian, will you knock it on the head or shall I?

[PanBiker]

I'll leave it up to you Stanley seeing as you posted it.

[Stanley]

Right. Have a look at THIS article on northern and eastern France’s Le Père Fouettard (Father Whipper), a sort of anti-Santa. And no, I had never come across this weird custom either.
Next for shaving?

[Stanley]

What can you tell me about this image?