MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

No takers at all.... Oh Dear!
I have always contended that the best way to understand the Roman incursion into the Isles is to regard the invaders as a heavily armed civil engineering organisation. The seem to me to have spent more time building than fighting. The mystery object is a Roman surveying tool. I'm sure Peter was on this because he hinted at levels.
Next for shaving?

[plaques]

You're not going to get away with it so lightly. How does it work?

[Big Kev]

Lining up the strings would give you a horizontal 90 degrees or a straight line. I believe these were used in conjunction with 3 long sticks for setting out straight roads.

[Stanley]

If you think you can sit there saying nothing and then start issuing orders you've got another think coming!
I think Kev is on the right lines. It's called a 'Groma'. See THIS Link to an article on use.

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Gloria]

A machine vice for holding irregular shapes, possibly castings?

[Stanley]

Exactly right Gloria but it has a specific name. That's what I am after. The banana is a clue.....

[Gloria]

No idea.

[Big Kev]

Matrix, or is that a brand name for it?

[Stanley]

That will be the brand. There is a name for this design of vise. I hadn't heard it before last night....

[Gloria]

X-clamp?

[Stanley]

No Gloria. The banana is a good clue because that's where I learned about it....

[Gloria]

Don’t know, I give up.

[Stanley]

Oh dear.... Big clue Gloria. 'Put Banana vise' in Google......

[Gloria]

Never heard of this, a fractal vice.

[Stanley]

That's right, easy wasn't it! Like you Gloria, I had never heard of it until I saw Eric refurbishing one on Hand Tool Rescue (LINK). A fascinating tool.
Next one?

[Stanley]

What exactly is this?

[Big Kev]

Looks like something from a horror film for drilling into someone's head

[chinatyke]

Looks like something from a horror film for drilling into someone's head

That was my first thought,too, so is it a medical instrument used in brain surgery?

[Stanley]

You are both warm, yes it could be used that way but not usually. It has a Proper Name!

[chinatyke]

It's an angle-of-dangle-ometer for measuring distance and angle from a sphere's centre. A tool for measuring in 3-dimensions - azimuthal, radial, and axial values.

Sounds good even if I don't know what I'm talking about!

[Cathy]

Surgical Head Frame / Skull Clamp .
Neurosurgery .

[Stanley]

You are all right but I'll have one last go.... There is a Proper Name for it, what is it?

[Big Kev]

Leksell Stereotactic System

[chinatyke]

Leksell Stereotactic System

Wow!