MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Tizer]

It isn't tin - Cathy's right with copper! In fact more copper was mined in Cornwall than tin. But this section of pit prop came from Lefke in Northern Cyprus. So now the question is how did those speckles of copper get into the pit prop?

[Cathy]

I’ve been Ggling… I don’t understand what I have read, but is it because of Copper Bioaccumulation as a consequence of Extensive Ancient Mining Activities in Cyprus? They were mining Copper there 2000 yrs ago.

[Tizer]

You're the winner, Cathy!!

You've got as close as I could expect from anyone, considering the strange background to this object's identity. It's a transverse section cut out of a wooden mine prop found in an ancient copper mine in Lefke, Cyprus. The prop had lain in water on the floor of one of the mine's tunnels for centuries. Pure copper isn't usually found in nature and instead copper-containing minerals (ore) are mined and then heated to release the copper. Some of those minerals are water-soluble and any water pooling or flowing in the mine would contain them. This prop had lain in such water and gradually absorbed the minerals then, over a long time, pure copper crystallised out to form the specks you see in the photo.

[Gloria]

That was a good one Tizer

[Cathy]

Yes, a good one Tize

[Stanley]

it was above my pay grade!
Now we need another object!

[Stanley]

What was this weight used for? There is enough information in the picture to give you some useful clues....

[Gloria]

Is it a counterbalance for something?

[Stanley]

Good thinking Gloria but no, it functioned as a dead weight....

[Tizer]

Does it spin the wheel? Part of a clock mechanism?

[Cathy]

Does it crush something, a grain maybe?

[Steeplejerk]

I'm sure it's in a belfry

[Stanley]

Tom is right, it's in a belfry. All Saints at Hamer in Rochdale. But nobody has got the purpose yet. Clue,It's not where it should be.....

[Steeplejerk]

Must be hanging off the spindle/vane rod

[Stanley]

I don't know what one of those is Tom. The problem is it's not hanging off anything........ Clue, we are in a spire.

[Gloria]

Guessing….is it to stop the bell banging about too much?

[Stanley]

Np Gloria. Concentrate on the fact it is out of place and this is a spire....

[Stanley]

I can see you need some help. Have a look at this....



The inside of the spire......

[Steeplejerk]

The cross tree with the spindle/vane rod running through it.

[Stanley]

Yes Tom and now I understand your previous post. I think you know the identity of the CI weight now and I think you could take a guess at what had happened.

[Gloria]

Is it used to apply downward pressure and stabilise the spire?

[Stanley]

Yes Gloria! It had evidently broken loose before as it was secured with thick copper wire and a subsidiary beam but that had failed. The miracle was it had fallen 40 feet and not damaged anything. Nobody knew it had fallen until they went in to take the bells out, the peal had been sold by the church.
Next object?



Here's where the weight and the wooden beam it had been supported on ended up....

[Steeplejerk]

They should have come further down with the cross tree and put a longer spindle in it then you don't need any added weight

[Stanley]

I remember thinking at the time that it was not the best way to do the job and as I say, it had failed before and the repair was with thick copper wire.....



A simple question, why 'ring mill'?

[Steeplejerk]

I'm sure I know