MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Cathy]

I know you said think textile but it looks like a fancy cornice piece from a well to do Edwardian home.

[Gloria]

A tenderizer of some sort?

[Tizer]

Part of a wooden handloom?

[Stanley]

Think patterns on cloth....

[Cathy]

A pattern stamper (would there be such a thing in a commercial sense?)

[Gloria]

Does it scrunch material to give a cheese cloth effect?

[Pluggy]

It looks like its got a chintz pattern. Did a bit of googling which led me here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodblock_printing

Its a woodblock for woodblock printing.

[Steeplejerk]

Its very elaborate for a printing block !!

[Stanley]

Cathy got it first and Pluggy is dead right. It's a screen-printing block for putting a pattern on cloth. This is quite a normal sized one and they are very intricately made. There are register spikes on each corner so you can follow the pattern. The pattern itself is made of copper strip and wire. Very skilled job making them.

[Gloria]

An interesting Mystery Object Stanley, thankyou.

[Tizer]

It doesn't look flat enough. How is the pattern transferred to the cloth?

[Stanley]

It must be a trick of the lens Peter, it's dead flat. The block was inked with a hard roller like typeface. It got complicated if there was more than one clour, a separate block for each colour and the rgister had to be preserved. Skilled Job. Haven't thoght of a new one yet so I'll give you a close-up of the printing face. I wouldn't like to have to make one!



All the edges are hard brass strip and the infill of the solid parts is wood. I wouldn't know where to start!

[Gloria]

Ah perhaps it would have been easier given that as the second view.

[Stanley]

You expect me to make it easier? No way Glo, you have to suffer! I was asked today whether anyone could post mystery objects, of course they can! I haven't thought of the next one yet. I'm working on it.

[Stanley]

Try this one....

[Steeplejerk]

Jewellers anvil !

[Stanley]

Curses! He's right! Now I'll have to think of another one.....

[Stanley]

Try this one....

[Steeplejerk]

You've flattened it Stanley

[Cathy]

Use the flat end as a chisel to get behind something and the curved end to lift the something away eg: a tile.

[Marilyn]

Chemical spatula/mixer?

[chinatyke]

Chemical spatula/mixer?

I agree, usually made of 100% Nickel.

A wise chemist once told me "Urea today, Argon tomorrow"

[Stanley]

Curses again! Maz got it first. This one came with some dental tools and I think it was used for mixing amalgam for tooth fillings. I'll rack my brains again!

[Marilyn]

Sorry Stanley.
( first husband was in the dental profession) I was going to be quite specific and say it was used for mixing amalgam, but decided to keep my answer general. I knew you would ask for specific detail if you wanted it. Besides, I am sure that a handy tool like that has many non dental uses too.

[Stanley]

I am impressed..... Ah well, can't complain about the level of intelligence of OG members!