MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Pluggy]

Large steel box on a trolley.....

[Marilyn]

Someone's lunchbox?

[David Whipp]

Yes; it's a large steel box... and, it's on a trolley...

The mystery is what it was used for. Not petty cash, but that's warmer than a lunch box.

[PanBiker]

A non democratic ballot box!

[David Whipp]

Complete with pre-completed ballot papers?

No... Sally may have had a brush with this box in her time though.

[Stanley]

Is it Mr Schrödinger's original box?

[David Whipp]

Possibly; no cat when I looked...

[PanBiker]

I have shown her the picture David but it doesn't ring any bells at the moment.

[David Whipp]

Tempted to reveal all (it's not that exciting...), however, here's a clue.

In the bank, but not that flush...

[PanBiker]

Is it the bank safety deposit box for the Town Council Regalia?

[David Whipp]

Thank goodness for that!

Yes it's, or was, the safety deposit box kept in the vault at the Yorkshire Bank previously used to hold the Chairman's and Vice-Chairman's chains.

The town council has made alternative arrangements and we picked up the strong box from the bank this week. Bank staff were delighted to see the back of it, as it took up a quarter of the space in their vault.

Very satisfying to carry out a successful bank job.

Here's me asking Lindsay Gaskell not to take a photo as I carried the box across the Town Square...

[Stanley]

You've reminded me of another mystery that I don't think we ever solved. I forget the details but the gist of it was that Matt Hartley gave a set of regalia to the old Council but took them back when he fell out with them after they refused to lay a water main for the swimming pool he built on Sagin Hill up to the Croft (became the Croft Garage...) Later he seems do have donated another set...

[Marilyn]

Not the most flattering photo ( but you need big tummy muscles to carry such a heavy item I guess)

[Stanley]

That was very diplomatic Maz! Nice to see you up this early in the morning.....

[David Whipp]

Marilyn, not a very flat(tering) tummy... but no good shying away from it...

As we emerged from the bank, we pretended that the box was heavily stuffed full of cash for the benefit of bystanders, but no one batted an eye.

[Marilyn]

Well if you are carrying loads of loot, one doesn't give a hoot about midriff proportions!!!!

[Pluggy]

Marilyn, not a very flat(tering) tummy... but no good shying away from it...

As we emerged from the bank, we pretended that the box was heavily stuffed full of cash for the benefit of bystanders, but no one batted an eye.

As a local celebrity David, it probably would be counter productive to do a bank heist. 90% of Barlick could immediately tell the police who did it....

[Cathy]

I'm thinking that maybe David hasn't really got big stomach bones/muscles, I think he found a lot of money in the box and stuffed it up his top then paraded thru the town square so that he would look innocent. We are on to you David!!

[Stanley]

If that's right Cathy he carries his stash about with him all the time.... Try this one. It's a cutting tool for the lathe but there is something different about it. Here's a clue, it's forged carbon steel and was made for use on a treadle driven lathe....

[Bodger]

Its a "swan neck" but i won't spoil it for others

[Stanley]

Good lad Bodge, we'll give them a day to see if they can spot it. Come on you lot!

[David Whipp]

Darned if I know what I'm trying to spot...!

[Gloria]

For undercutting on a wood turning lathe???

[Stanley]

Gloria is nearest but not quite there, mind you, it's very obscure unless you are a very old turner like Bodge! It's a cast steel tool forged by the blacksmith with the swan neck to make it very slightly springy. It was known as a spring tool. The theory was that if it started to dig in on a heavy cut it sprung back slightly out of the cut. However, this was one of those rare instances where the old boys had it wrong. If you imagine the tool bending at the swan neck you'll realise that any movement actually forced the cutter further in. Think of the pivot point being the bottom of the curved section. To be effective the curve should have been the opposite way so that any flexing brought the cutting edge back as the pivot point would be above the cutting edge. Try this one....

[chinatyke]

Sliding wedge for levelling machinery? Just guessing.

Sorry, just seen a clue in Shed Matters 2!