OneGuyFromBarlick

We have had this one before. There wasn't a definite answer but a consensus was that the flutes were part of the original straight rod which was then twisted and cut to form the drill proper. The flutes that went through the shank where left as part of the manufacturing process.

And now as then, I don't think that's the answer but I'll admit it has as much going for it as anything I can come up with.

I would suspect an early form of a "through the spindle" coolant system.
The coolant flows directly down through the spindle rather than being pointed at the tip of the drill thus having a more efficient flow of coolant to the drill bit point.

This kind of application, although greatly improved now, is common on modern machine tools.

I've often wondered whether it was a drill manufacturer's little joke.....

Where have you seen this image before?

Players cigarettes

Yes Tom... an easy one. I shall have to think hard....

What is this, and what can you tell me about it?

That's a good one Gloria. I've never seen anything like it........

I haven't a clue, but I'd definitely find a space on my wall to hang one.

It would go well near to Wendyf's cast iron pub table.

I’m not saying anything until tomorrow.

Is it some sort of garden furniture?

Big Kev wrote: ↑24 Jun 2022, 15:52 Is it some sort of garden furniture?

No not garden furniture.

An industrial cotton spinning wheel?

Combined spoke spacing 22.5 degrees. ie 16 pairs. How do you mark that out.? A bespoke wheel.

It looks as though it is a cast iron rim and wrought iron spokes. Is it the flywheel off some sort of treadle powered machine?

You are right with the wheel, but you haven’t got the reason for the configuration yet.

Possibly an early attempt at a 'tension' spoke wheel rather than the standard cast spokes. I believe the latest development is for fibre spokes in place of the usual steel.

plaques wrote: ↑25 Jun 2022, 08:02 Possibly an early attempt at a 'tension' spoke wheel rather than the standard cast spokes. I believe the latest development is for fibre spokes in place of the usual steel.

You are near with spokes, but what is the special purpose of them?

They allow for expansion and contraction of the rim?

Tizer wrote: ↑25 Jun 2022, 08:49 They allow for expansion and contraction of the rim?

I think I can give you that, seen in the Michelin Museum Clermont-Ferrand France.

In my motorbiking days the Triumph Thunderbird had a sprung hub. Seen as a suspension breakthrough but actually not very good.

.

They had some strange ideas with spokes in cast iron wheels, I could bang on for hours.... But one of the main problems was the differential cooling of the thick rim and thin spokes if it was cast in one piece. That's why some wheels had 'S' shaped spokes, the idea being that they would spring slightly rather than break. A composite wheel like this with wrought iron spokes fitted separately would not suffer spoke breakage as the design made it elastic.

What is it?

Looks a bit like a soldering heat sink.

So close Ken but actually a kitchen utensil...... ??