MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Wendyf]

Our next history society talk is on old Lancashire/Yorkshire farmhouses and the speaker specializes in vernacular architecture so the owners of Marlfield will be bringing the photos along to the meeting.

[Stanley]

Good! But what is it?

[David Whipp]

Sorry, that's a bit of a mystery!

The most likely explanation is the one suggested by John.

I wondered if anyone had any alternative ideas on here...

[Stanley]

While we wait for Wendy to put us out of our misery, have a go at this one.... A very old fashioned process but still done today.

[Wendyf]

Sorry Stanley, I can't help with that one. I will report back after Tuesday's meeting.

[Stanley]

I understand that Wendy, not your fault. (The pan bottom?)
Now then, what's going on in the picture.....

[plaques]

Now then, what's going on in the picture.....

A bit of old fashioned brass turning. The tool post would be fitted with pillars to lever against using a hand held tool similar to that used by wood turners. Thin sections, like the one shown, could be folded over, (spun), to hold some other detail. Quite complex shapes can be turned using this method even fine threads of different pitch. Much faster than messing about with the traditional tool post and holders.

[Stanley]

I've got to give it to you P. It is indeed an old brass turning lathe and yes, they chased threads by hand amongst other things. This pic was taken at Budenbergs and the man is metal spinning the bezel for a pressure gauge. Right up to when they finished they still did them this way and there are many modern metal spinners working in very heavy materials.
Next one?

[Tizer]

Let's see if you can work out what this is a picture of. It's obvious innit, it's one of them whatsits with a thingy on top!

[PanBiker]

It could be an early mobile wireless transmitting or receiving vehicle. I see a cable coming from the bottom of the structure on top which could be some form of antenna. Maybe for checking coverage area from a given transmitter.

[Tripps]

Edwardian TV detector van.

Knowing where you go for holidays, and that you have just come back - I'm guessing here?

[Big Kev]

It could be an early mobile wireless transmitting or receiving vehicle. I see a cable coming from the bottom of the structure on top which could be some form of antenna. Maybe for checking coverage area from a given transmitter.

You beat me to it, Ian. I was going to say outside broadcast van for radio.

[Marilyn]

An early omnibus company that cares for the comfort of passengers.
The ventilation "chimney" is on wheels, so it can be directly positioned above passengers who have eaten Garlic...thereby creating an escape of the disturbing fumes that can upset other passengers?

[Big Kev]

An early omnibus company that cares for the comfort of passengers.
The ventilation "chimney" is on wheels, so it can be directly positioned above passengers who have eaten Garlic...thereby creating an escape of the disturbing fumes that can upset other passengers?

I like your thinking

[Marilyn]

I also thought it would be handy for putting Christmas Lights up in Blackpool...

[Stanley]

I like it, the vehicle is steam driven and I have seen something similar in early police wireless experiments but on a car.

[Tizer]

You're all getting to know me too well and can work out what I've probably seen! Mind you, it would give the men a surprise if I could report that Maz's answers were correct.

Yes, it's described on the photo's caption as: "The earliest form of mobile radio. This steam bus, by Thorneycroft, was used in 1901 in experiments with the Haven Hotel station. The cylindrical aerial could be hinged down when the vehicle was on the move. Marconi stands at the extreme right." The Haven Hotel is in Poole, Dorset, and was used by Marconi for some of his early experiments. As well as developing radio he also entertained guests by playing the piano!

Tripps knows where I go for holidays - Cornwall - but in this case it looks at first sight as if he was on the wrong track because the location is Poole, Dorset. But I took a photo of the print in the Museum at Helston, Cornwall. It's on show there as part of a Marconi display because he had a station at Poldhu on the Lizard peninsula. Tripps has linked to the web site of the Telegraph Museum in Porthcurno, across Mount's Bay from Poldhu, and we did visit there but that's all about cable communication whereas Marconi was developing wireless communication. I once had a phone conversation with a man whose grandfather had worked at the Telegraph building and who told him how they used to go across the bay at night and raid Marconi's station to put it out of action. If that sounds like a tall story just think how the railway navvies used to raid each others' sites, and consider how much money was at stake.

The Telegraph Museum in Porthcurno is now housed in a new building and is excellent. Volunteers who have worked at the station give talks explaining the work and the laying of cables worldwide and it's all fascinating information. The museum shop is one of the best I've ever seen, packed with books and all sorts of interesting stuff.

[Stanley]

Try this one....

[David Whipp]

For cutting threads?

[Stanley]

David is right. It's a thread chaser used for cutting threads by hand in a lathe. It came to mind when we were talking about the brass lathe above. The old brass turners were experts with these tools cutting very fine threads very quickly by hand.
Next for shaving?

[David Whipp]

What put me on that thread (as it were) was your reference to having to make some studs.

[Wendyf]

Nothing to report on the mystery niche in the wall at Marlfield. Kevin Illingworth couldn't make out what it was from the small photo he was shown, but I believe an arrangement was made for him to visit and see for himself.

[Tizer]

Let's see what you make of this one. I've scrubbed out the corners of the image because there were parts of other objects showing that might have made it too easy!

[Stanley]

I'm not capable of doing them by hand David!
Not certain but it looks to me like a parallel ruler if the knurled rollers extend below the bottom surface. An early version was the cylindrical ruler that you just rolled across the sheet to make parallel lines.

[David Whipp]

Ooh... and I was going to suggest a cornish pasty edging tool...