MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Cathy]

We have quite a few , but because it appears to be black, I will guess at Red Bellied Black Snake.
If it is brown, I would say a Western Brown.

[Stanley]

Spot on Cathy, or so the man said who congratulated me for keeping still!
Next object?



This is the blow down pipe off a Lancashire Boiler. Can you tell me what it's known as in the trade?

[PanBiker]

I only need to get another one a quarter right and I will have a full point.

[Stanley]

Have a crack at the new one then!

[PanBiker]

If you insist: Blow off cock.

[Stanley]

Sorry no Ian. The name is derived from the shape......

[PanBiker]

Swan / Goose neck ? Google only has the blow off cock in relation to Lancashire Boilers. How you can be led astray!

[Stanley]

Swan neck is correct Ian. Well done...... Made of very heavy cast steel to withstand the erosion of the contaminated water being forced through under high pressure.
Next one?

[PanBiker]

He, he, I have a full point now.

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Gloria]

Is it a pressure vessel of some sort?

[Stanley]

In a way Gloria yes but I wouldn't go at it that way because that's misleading. You've seen it before. Clue, it's at Blist Hill....

[Big Kev]

Vertical blowing engine.

[Stanley]

Correct Kev. Well remembered!

[Stanley]

What exactly is it?

[PanBiker]

As it looks like pressure cooker I would say it is some kind of pressure release valve?

[Stanley]

It is but that's a bit vague Ian. Can you tell me exactly what it is?

[PanBiker]

Afraid not, that was my best guess. I am an electronics engineer not and engine tenter.

[Stanley]

Fair point Ian. It's technical so I'll knock it on the head. It's a dead weight safety valve on a Lancashire boiler. Almost standard in the mills because it was dead simple and couldn't be tampered with. There were too many instances of engineers altering safety valves to get more power out of their engines thus getting in the good books of the management.
Next object?

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Stanley]

Nobody is responding. If there are no re3plies by dinnertime I'll knock it on the head.

[Gloria]

It looks like a finial for the top of something.

[Stanley]

Sorry Gloria but no. Here you are..... LINK. It's a tppe Top and no, I had never heard of them either!

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Cathy]

Looks to me like a Bone from the game of Knuckle Bones.