Whatsit?

[DJH]

Never seen a Zebra's thing... Can't wait Z!! Here's another Whatsit to keep us going while we wait. It's Victorian era and I've only just got it and am mightily pleased with it and it will go well with my collection.







It's made of brass and is it unusual to have the cork still with it...

Doug

 

[Zebra]

I know what that is! It's the exhaust from a motorbike. Cork is so you can mute it when riding through built up areas.

 

[DJH]

:lol: :lol: ...like this?

 

[Zebra]

Let's try again.

Ah! Success! Here's my thing. Dug up in the garden. 3 inches in diameter. Iron, I would say.

 

[DJH]

Hmm...could be anything Z. Maybe a libation cup to the god of Zebras to keep them safe from the king of the jungle ?

Are there any signs of a handle ever been attached to it or maybe of three legs to allow it to stand? By coincidence the latest addition to my library arrived from France this morning...Iron and Brass Implements of the English House (don't ask...I've never seen eyebrows raised so high as when I announced that I'd ordered it!) and a quick glance shows nothing like your yoke Zebra.

Any guesses on my last whatsit or shall I reveal all?

Doug

 

[Penners]

Any guesses on my last whatsit or shall I reveal all?

Is it some kind of liquid measure, Doug? Or simply a picnic flask for the brandy?

I'd rather you didn't reveal all, if you don't mind. I'm a bit squeamish.

Zebra - I'm not ignoring yours, I just have no idea! Is the vertical outside edge threaded, under all that rust?

 

[DJH]

Not a liquid measure Penners but it is for taking a sample...

Reveal all? Hmmm I understand your squeamishness but don't fret, I haven't worked out how to do selfies yet.

I've taken this picture from my new book. I expect it's just your sort of thing Penners but then, I'm sure you have one already.



Doug

 

[Penners]

Not a liquid measure Penners but it is for taking a sample...

Aha... taken discreetly to the apothecary within a plain muslin wrapper, no doubt.

I'm delighted to see an illustration of a port tilter. It's reminded me that I need a new one - the thread on my old one is nearly worn away.

 

[Zebra]

Thank you Penners for your kind attention in Doug's absence. No, it has no thread, nor marking to indicate legs or a handle. A mystery then perhaps.
As for the shiny thing, it looks to me like a kind of milk churn. It couldn't be to do with cheesemaking, finally, could it?

 

[DJH]

I did attend on you Zebra...on the previous page. Alas, no. Nothing to do with cheese making (sorry Lady A!) or with the type of sample Penners ahs in mind...

Doug

 

[Zebra]

A sample of water? Of soil?

 

[DJH]

Yes. A well water sampler. It has a layer of lead in the bottom to keep it upright as it drops in the water and the cork plug is also weighted to stop it floating. A rare 19th century artefact and pride of my plumbing collection.
Any prize on the bottom shelf!!
Doug

 

[Penners]

the type of sample Penners has in mind...

Actually, Doug, it now seems obvious to me that it can't be that kind of sampler. The neck is much too narrow!!

 

[DJH]

No need for it to be so deep either I suspect... 8)

 

[Penners]

Speak for yourself!

 

[88v8]

Came across this whilst looking at knobs.

Save Time Tool
Wotsit?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/c1927-ART-DECO-METAL-COPPER-COATED-SAVE-TIME-TOOL-WOT-IS-IT-/301919022431?hash=item464bc6ad5f:g:ThUAAOSwe7BWxwRE

Not mine.

Ivor

 

[Me!]

Perhaps Zebra's thing is an old core plug?

Modern ones look like this -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CORE-PLUG...703968?hash=item2107330160:g:xOQAAOSwMmBVnlNJ

or like this -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engine-Co...hash=item48338e2615:m:mIf0SnWtGbtc3hHwgqBN7kg

and come in a large variety of sizes.

 

[DJH]

Thinking logically ( well my logic anyway :roll: ) if Zebras thing has no signs of a handle or legs and no lip or poring spout my best guess is that it must have been placed in something else to hold it from tipping, such as a wooden base. Being cast iron I wonder if it could be a core plug as I thought they were tapped into place with a hammer or mallet and the chances of it cracking are quite high.

My best guess is that if it was mounted on a base then it could be part of a tallow or rush light to hold the melted tallow as the rush or wick burned down. If it was for a rush light then there would more than likely be some sort of back plate and clip mechanism to hold the rush in place.

Keep digging Z and see what else you can find...

That 'save time' tool is interesting Ivor...maybe I should buy it and put it on here as a whatsit! I think it's a railing or fence finial...

Doug

 

[Me!]

Is Zebra's thing definitely cast iron? Could it be wrought iron or some other form of ferrous metal?

Modern steel core plugs are indeed hammered in place to bend them slightly and tighten them into the casting. But what happened before steel? Were castings for steam engines fitted with some older form of iron core plugs?

 

[Penners]

Funnily enough, I came to same conclusion, Me!. I considered the possibility of it being a core plug, but I can't imagine that a cast iron core plug would work. It's the springiness of steel that keeps them in place.