MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Tripps]

Removing cattle horns?

[LizG]

For cauterising after castrating something?

[Stanley]

Well done Liz! Spot on. It's a gelding iron. Used on bullocks and other large animals. You immobilised the beat, clamped the skin between the scrotum and the body and cut it with the red hot iron. Green Salve applied afterwards which I think is Mercury Ointment. Before you recoil in horror, the beasts lay still, never bled, never got infected and when you released them they were back grazing immediately as though nothing had happened. Watch lambs with rubber rings on, the poor beggars can hardly walk for the first hour or two.... Try this one....

[LizG]

Picture hanging wire?

[Tizer]

Try this one....

I haven't got over the last one yet. Ouch!!
Now we know how Liz spends her time learning about rural activities!

[Stanley]

Sorry Liz, no. There's a clue in the preceding exchanges, in fact it was that which reminded me about it.....

[LizG]

Is it used for removing cattle horns?

Lots of family with farms Tizer so I did know they used rubber rings for sheep.

[Stanley]

That's it Liz, de-horning wire. You cut a length off, put a wooden handle on each end and use as a saw. The same thing in heavier grades has been sued for tree-pruning and on a much bigger scale by salvage firms like Smit for cutting large wrecks into liftable sections. Very quick cutting.... Try this one, another sort of wire.

[Stanley]

No offers? It's very flexible woven bronze wire which I used to use for making Rabbit snares. Similar wire is also used for hanging heavy pictures.
Next for shaving?

[Stanley]

Try this one.....

[David Whipp]

Fuse wire or solder?

[Stanley]

Too easy, old fashioned lead fuse wire.... Try this one

[David Whipp]

Adjustable foot for treacle miner's treadle.

[Stanley]

We need something better than that.....

[Stanley]

I think you might need a bit of help with this one.

[Stanley]

No offer? I'll give it another day....

[David Whipp]

Adjustable insert for the bottom of a (some sort of table) leg?

[PanBiker]

Interesting that the countersinking is on the bottom, no idea what its for though.

[Stanley]

It's a hard one. Imagine it sunk into a bench tap flush with the surface.....

[Tizer]

Sunk into a bench? Is it an adjustable stop for holding timber against while being planed? Turn the screw head to raise and lower it.

[Stanley]

Exactly that Tiz. A very elegant solution for having a planing stop but keeping the advantage of a flat surface on the bench. Very useful if space is limited. You are dead right. The screw is used to raise and retract the stop.

[chinatyke]

About 25 cm diameter and it has a useful purpose despite being home made and unique!

[Pluggy]

Insect repellent/killer for a wardrobe.

[PostmanPete]

It looks like my wifes attempt at spaghetti carbonara...!

[Marilyn]

I think my husband had cookery lessons with your wife, PP!
I am in agreement with Pluggy re its use.
But what on earth is it made of? Sphagetti soaked in something, then hardened?