Page 236 of 871
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 29 Apr 2016, 03:18
by Stanley
You are all correct of course.... Next one!
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 30 Apr 2016, 03:30
by Stanley
You lot are slow, try this oldie.....

Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 02 May 2016, 05:42
by Stanley
No takers?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 02 May 2016, 06:51
by David Whipp
Pressure gauge?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 02 May 2016, 07:34
by plaques
A symbolic presentation of the family silver spoon being put under pressure by the need to put food on the table.
On the other hand it could be simply an expansion pressure, where the target pressure must not be exceeded. Or just a pressure gauge like David suggests.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 02 May 2016, 08:30
by Marilyn
Stanley's home-made ear cleaning apparatus. The tap system suggests some refinement...perhaps enabling the ability to save retrieved ear wax for further use in the deep fat fryer?
And perhaps as a side line, he can blow up balloons with it at children's parties?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 03 May 2016, 03:48
by Stanley
David is on the right track. Have another very careful look at it.... Clue, it's a very accurate pressure gauge.....
Maz, I recycle my ear wax making Hopi ear candles.......
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 03 May 2016, 07:06
by David Whipp
The vertical element looks like it could be a pump - is it for testing the pressure of something?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 04 May 2016, 04:23
by Stanley
I think you are close enough David. The connection on the opposite side to the existing gauge is for another pressure gauge. You could pump the pressure up on both of them to check the accuracy of the gauge being tested against the accurate test gauge. Occasionally you'd connect a specially calibrated standard test gauge to check the accuracy of the small gauge.
A very accurate Budenberg Standard Test Gauge.
Next one?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 05 May 2016, 05:05
by Stanley
Try this oldie. What's special about this thermometer?

Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 07 May 2016, 05:35
by Stanley
That went down like a lead balloon didn't it.... Hard to see from that pic but its range is from 20F to 600F. It's the thermometer Newton used to check the accuracy of the thermometers on economisers which heated feed water for the boiler under pressure.
Try this one......
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 07 May 2016, 08:27
by David Whipp
For recording a trace of varying measurements from a stylus?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 08 May 2016, 03:18
by Stanley
You're getting there David. Now exactly what trace.......
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 08 May 2016, 07:29
by David Whipp
I'll go for boiler pressure...
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 08 May 2016, 08:06
by plaques
A steam pressure indicator for measuring the running pressure within the piston while it is running. The paper is wrapped round a cylinder and the tracing pen moves up and down against a calibrated spring. Something very similar was used on gas engines when they were trying to knock a bit of sense into me in my young days.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 09 May 2016, 03:53
by Stanley
P has it right. Papers for the Dobbie McInnes Indicator. They are special paper that accepts a trace from a small bronze stylus.
I have two indicators I used to use regularly and one which was in a smashed box and given to me. I refurbished it and you'd have a job to tell it was ever broken.
Next one?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 09 May 2016, 15:19
by David Whipp
Picked this up on a facebook group. It's in a wall at Marlfield Farm, at around waist height.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 03:21
by chinatyke
Is it a drinking trough fed by a spring?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 03:44
by Stanley
I'm with China, original version of the modern water bowl.....
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 05:39
by Wendyf
It's inside the kitchen and quite small, the opening is the size of an A4 sheet of paper.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 05:54
by Stanley
In that case, is it a small hand washing basin? Fed by rain water?
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 07:00
by David Whipp
So far, I think it's informed speculation about what it is; Wendy has more information than me on it.
This is an accompanying picture from Marlfield. I'm assuming this is on the outside of the wall.

Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 13:13
by chinatyke
Could it be a urinal and the other picture is the outlet on the outside of the wall? Maybe it wasn't always a kitchen!
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 10 May 2016, 13:56
by John C Layton
I think that the age of the building - or at least the wall containing the feature - is the answer.
I would guess that the core fabric of the building is Elizabethan and, if so, then the feature could well have been incorporated into the wall as a font. This was common practice post-Dissolution where illegal Catholic Mass was celebrated in many country houses by travelling priests using hidden or disguised religious objects. If this was indeed a font within the wall then it could be hidden by a wall-hanging or furniture pushed up to the wall .
The feature is at an ideal height - the outlet to the outside would allow for rapid drainage of the holy water in case of a raid by the authorities - further, the outlet could also allow blessed water to be available to segregated people outside of the family ceremony within the house. In other words, the farm workers could take part in the Mass by standing outside thus saving the family the ordeal of having to gaze on their warty faces and breath the punjent aromas of their workers and sweaty local farmers.
On the inside of the building the feature was accorded a degree of status by incorporating quality stonework around it - not something usually found in utilitarian features. In fact, the jambs/lintle/sill form a regular-arm cross.
Re: MYSTERY OBJECTS
Posted: 11 May 2016, 03:48
by Stanley
I like that John, sounds entirely logical.....