MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Gloria]

It looks like a wheel of some sort, for milling corn perhaps?

[Stanley]

Yes, you're looking at the top of a mill stone but what is the mechanism called?

[Tizer]

The grain is fed from the grist case into the shoe (a trough) and slides down and through a hole (the eye) in the top millstone. The vertical shaft is a rotating crank called the damsel which knocks the shoe to keep the grain in motion. It was called a damsel because it's always chattering - I'm not sure we'd get away with that these days! The same equipment was used in breweries to feed crushed malted barley from the grist case into the mash tun.

[Stanley]

Peter has got it exactly right and it was 'damsel' that I was looking for.
Next one anyone?

[Stanley]

What is it called? And a bonus for anyone who can tell me the popular version of how it was invented.....

[Mags]

Pelton Turbine designed by Pelton during the Gold Rush in america - designed for small rivers/streams.

[Stanley]

Was that Googled? Correct, now tell me what was popularly said to have given him the idea.....

[Stanley]

He turned a hose on a cow's head one day and noticed how, when the jet hit the cow's nostrils, it forced it's head up.
Now, try this oldie....



What is it?

[Big Kev]

Medicine bottle?

[Tripps]

Poison bottle with ribbed sides?

[Stanley]

You were right Kev but David has the salient fact, it's a bottle for holding poison or dangerous medicine. These were ribbed and/or made of brown or green glass.
Next object?

[Stanley]

What's the colloquial term for a wall top built like this?

[Big Kev]

Cock and hen?

[Stanley]

Very close Kev but I have never heard that one. As I say, very close, you are on the right track.....
The phrase I am looking for was used by the wallers.....

[Stanley]

If there is no movement by dinnertime I'll knock it on the head.....

[Gloria]

Is it castling?

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria no, but I can see where you're coming from. Big clue, think rabbits......

[Steeplejerk]

Buck and doe

[Stanley]

That's it Tom! Bucks and Does1. Now for the next object...... ?

[Stanley]

But first an apology to Gloria..... Something nattered me when you said 'castled' but it took until this morning when I woke up to realise what it was. I was harsh on you because there is a term in polite (posh) architecture very similar to that, 'castellated'. And that too would be an accurate description of bucks and does which is the vernacular term for the same thing. Sorry Gloria! I shall try to do better in future.



Staying on a similar theme, what's the architectural term for this part of a bridge?

[Gloria]

no problem Stanley

[Steeplejerk]

3 in Blackpool

[Stanley]

Thanks Gloria!
But what's the name of it Tom?

[Steeplejerk]

Pier

[Stanley]

That's the base. I am after the bit between the two arches......