MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Gloria]

Pressure testing gauge???

[Stanley]

Yes Gloria but on what specifically?

[Stanley]

I'll give it one more day. Think internal combustion engines.....

[Gloria]

Checking cylinder compression, it is inserted where the plug goes.

[Pluggy]

I'm with Gloria, its a compression tester. I used to own one.

[Stanley]

Exactly right Gloria and Pluggy! A most useful tool for checking on the health of the bores in an engine, not so much for an absolute reading, they aren't very accurate, but to compare the cylinders. Valve or ring problems show up immediately and you know where to go next. Try this one....

[Tizer]

A Barlick dentist's tooth extractor?

[Cathy]

Teeth... Ouch!! I'm thinking of poor baby lambs having something very unfortunate done to them... Ouch to that too!

[Gloria]

A metal twitch for use to sedate horses on their noses, as against the stick and rope concoction.

[Stanley]

I've used nose pincers many a time Gloria when we had to milk beasts that had different ideas to us! But Tiz has it right, dental forceps. I'm sure they are because I looked the makers up, Wright and Co of London and they made medical instruments, or at least, retailed them. Very likely made in Sheffield or somewhere like that.
Next for shaving?

[David Whipp]

Whereabouts is this 'bird bath'?

[Tizer]

A postscript on the dental forceps...a friend told Mrs Tiz yesterday that he'd been to B&Q to buy pincers. A young B&Q lad offered to help but when asked where they kept pincers his answer was "What are pincers?"

[Marilyn]

Strangely Tiz, I've had similar enquiries, accompanied by quizzical looks, when one mentions such objects as vacuum cleaners and irons, and also aspects of ancient rituals known commonly as cooking and washing up, from young people...and I would like to know how they got this far in life without such necessary knowledge.

Sorry David...back to your birdbath....

[Tizer]

Maz, last week I had a long conversation with the manager of the private company that provides care services at my dad's Extra Care House because some of the carers don't do as well as they should, especially the younger ones. She's very aware of the problems but explained how difficult it was to find young people who were suitable. All the care companies have got a serious problem finding staff now. Many of the young people coming into it last only a short time, they lack attention and are not reliable. The under-staffing that results then puts a bigger onus on the good young people and you can lose them too.

[Cathy]

Had to hold back a laugh recently when after a luncheon it was time to clean up the kitchen, the youngest female (Princess) of the group looked around and said 'Where's the machine?'. She was quickly given a lesson in washing up. Bless her

[Marilyn]

I believe all that Tiz and Cathy.
And our own kids are classic examples...ten for lunch on Father's Day ( kids and useless partners) and not ONE offer to help clear the table or ( heaven forbid) wash a dish.

[Stanley]

All this rings so many bells with me. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the reason why I am familiar with so many objects and processes is because I travelled round a lot in my job and was a nosey bugger. If I saw something I had to ask questions and find out about it. Most people today don't have these opportunities and are perhaps less curious, no time to observe and question because their lives are moving so fast. Kids have a screen based culture and are absorbing information from them that has been edited for a purpose, a trend is more important than what those railings outside the house are made from. The result is that they have a very restricted view of the world. There are of course exceptions but in the main ignorance is bliss. This is one of the reasons why I started this topic. Perhaps the employees at B&Q should have it included in any training scheme!
As for the bird bath, not a clue but I'll hazard a guess it's on a public building in Nelson!

[David Whipp]

Definitely a Barlick bird bath...

[Big Kev]

I'd guess at The Rainhall Centre, don't know why...

[David Whipp]

Sorry Kev, know I spend half my life there, but not the Rainhall Centre...

[David Whipp]

Clue; the shebbies like a flutter...

[Gloria]

Over a betting office in Barlick????

[David Whipp]

No the money. Gloria.

Which one is the favourite?

[PanBiker]

Former Midland / HSBC in Barlick?

[Pluggy]

I was having a peruse on street view and the old HSBC building (Now William Hills) has a substantial over hang from the roof and the downspouts have a big offset in them.

https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=53.915954 ... ,,0,-34.84