MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Cathy]

Does it hold a knife, fork and spoon?
Hard to see the size.

[Tizer]

No, it's smaller than that Cath about 3.5 inches long (9cm).

[Cathy]

OK last try - Highlighter Pen or White-Out Pen (Correction Fluid).

[Stanley]

Pen knife.....

[Cathy]

I thought penknife but then thought they would probably have one of those all in one combination types. ??

[Stanley]

It's a mystery Cathy.....

[Gloria]

Penlight????

[Cathy]

I think we are getting desperate Tize

[Tizer]

Aaaagh...I give in, you're all using the word but in different contexts - it's a ballpoint pen. We've had penlight, penknife, highlighter pen (which was probably the nearest), white-out pen, pencil sharpener, pen lid and pen drive. But not a `ballpoint pen', or even just `a pen'.

So now you know it's a ballpoint pen can you guess what is special about it other than the obvious facts that it's silver and has `Fly Navy' on it's side?

[PanBiker]

Is it one for the U.S. astronauts to use, a number of which were Navy pilots?

[Big Kev]

You can write upside down with it.

[Tripps]

Isn't it annoying when you think - it's just a pen -and then don't post it.

Kev - don't they say that the Russians just used pencils, or is that an urban myth?

[Big Kev]

Isn't it annoying when you think - it's just a pen -and then don't post it.

Kev - don't they say that the Russians just used pencils, or is that an urban myth?

I believe it's a myth, not good to have bits of graphite floating around with all that electrical equipment.

[PanBiker]

According to the Wiki on Space Pens both the Americans and Russians used pencils at one time or another on space missions. It was not until Fisher (not NASA, which is an urban myth) developed the gas filled ballpoint that they switched to pens. The USSR ordered 100 from Fisher for current, (at the time) and future space missions.

Having read that it makes my guess at what is special about it a bit rubbish.

[Tizer]

It's not an `astronaut's pen' but for all I know it might write upside down. However, that is definitely not its `unique selling point'. A big clue - here's a view of the other side...

[Big Kev]

It folds up into a small space until you need to write with it?

[Cathy]

The pen is shaped like a rocket, and I'm wondering if it has a magnet possibly in the casing to secure it in a specific place when not being used.

[Gloria]

It can be clipped on chain around neck, or on key ring??

[Tizer]

Kev and Gloria are both correct but no-one has identified the specific feature. Mrs Tiz says I'm being mean by forcing you to carry on guessing so I'll bring it to an end and show you the feature, something I haven't seen in any other pen. Kev is right that it's a folding pen but you'll remember I said that Navy pilots are show offs and like to make even the simple things look high-tech. You press a tiny button on the side and the pen automatically folds out as shown below (but you have to fold it back manually, so there's still room for an improved model!). The best way to show you would be in a video but this burst of still images on my camera gives you the idea of how it works. The total time is about 3 seconds and the movement is very smooth and not jerky. No batteries are needed and no mechanism is visible but it must be a spring in some form. Just imagine the 2001 Space Odyssey music playing as you look at the images!

[PanBiker]

A damped flick knife mechanism then.

Although it has a point it's a bit pointless. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Stanley]

Try this one......

[Cathy]

Does it open up to become a sewing stitch unpicker ?

[Stanley]

Sorry Cathy, no.

[Tizer]

Is it the astronauts' pen discussed above?

[Stanley]

Exactly right Tiz. Mary bought me this Fisher pen almost 30 years ago. It has two spare refills but is still running on the original fill and writes immediately every time. Writes underwater, on greasy surfaces and upside down.

Next for shaving?