Whatsit?

[noj]

Speaking tube mouthpiece?

 

[parkview094]

Is it something for compressing a powder of some form? A very early espresso tamper?

 

[Flyfisher]

Does the larger piece have a hole right through it? I'm thinking of it being used to push corks into bottles.

 

[Pennyviz]

with noj, would have been used to communicate with servants from far parts of the house .....

Penny

 

[DJH]

Spot on Noj and Penny. I thought that this Whatsit might have lasted a little longer It is a mouthpiece and whistle which was connected to a tube or pipe for summoning servants from the nether regions of the house. The whistle is very loud and must have resonated out of the tube at the servants end!

Don't you have one Lady A???

It's a very nicely turned piece of lignum vitae with an unscrewable mouthpiece and an internal thread to allow it to be screwed onto the speaking tube.





A clear view of the whistle...



Doug

 

[DJH]

It's been awhile since a Whatsit was posted so does anyone know what this?







Doug

 

[steveb]

an automatic brake of some device?

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, some sort of cleat? I would normally suggest something maritime but knowing your predilection for anything lead-related, how about a cleat for holding ropes when hoisting heavy lead castings into place? Or for locking a gin wheel rope perhaps?

 

[Feltwell]

It's screwed to a wall and grips a rope tightly I reckon. To what purpose though, I've no idea!

 

[Me!]

A clamp for holding the end of a length of lead came whilst it is being stretched?

 

[DJH]

Yes, it is Me! I thought this Whatsit would have run on a few more days at least...

I've not seen one quite like this before and can't decide if it is home made or was adapted from a manufactured one. It doesn't have any makers marks apart from what I guess is the owners name which is stamped with different size stamps. It works very well and grips the came so firmly that the bench will move when I pull it!

It's a valued addition to my collection and something else for the wife to get rid of at some time.

Doug

PS Where's Penners nowadays?

 

[DJH]

Another easy one...

 

[Feltwell]

Well, the item at the bottom looks like a roofers "speed square" to me - used for marking up rafters and other items for cutting - and not a very old one either judging by the "Made in Taiwan" ! :wink:

As for the conical ooojamerflit with handles - well, it's *obviously* a handled conical ooojamerflit, of course

 

[Me!]

Yes, it is Me! I thought this Whatsit would have run on a few more days at least...

Well, I had a slight advantage with this one in that I knew this kind of Whatsit existed, although I'd never seen what they actually looked like before. However with this Whatsit, my question please is why should came be stretched?
I've only ever made two leaded window panels and I didn't stretch the came first when I made them because I didn't know I should. But, that was several years ago now and I've just been and checked both of them and they still seem fine.

For this latest Whatsit I'm going to guess at a flaring / stretching (I don't know the correct term!) tool for the end of lead pipes? I'm thinking of something like the way a car brake-pipe is flared at the ends so that the nut can compress it onto the joint.

PS Where's Penners nowadays?

I don't know. He's been around since before this forum even existed (he was on the older one before it), and it does seem very strange without him being here. I do wish that long-standing members* wouldn't just suddenly disappear without asking permission first!

* double entendre intended to try and awake Penners from his slumber.

 

[DJH]

Ha ha...that double entendre should certainly make Penners stand up....

 

[Penners]

double entendre intended to try and awake Penners from his slumber.

Uh...? Eh....? Wha'....? Sorry - I wasn't asleep, I was just thinking with my eyes closed.

At my age a longstanding member needs a bit of a lie-down from time to time.

 

[DJH]

Glad to hear you're still knocking around Penners...

Me!. Apparently stretching lead came both strengthens it and straightens out any kinks or bends at the same time. Why it strengthens the came I can only guess that it messes about with the molecules somehow. in my experience the same phenomenon is noticeable when bossing Rolled ( milled lead) into shape. It's slightly harder than sand cast lead sheet although it does depend sometimes if there's impurities such as solder in the mix.

Here's a chap on the right stretching his lead..





Page 30 of this topic has more ...

 

[DJH]

Two more Whatsits...

 

[Penners]

Wild guess - I reckon the one at the bottom is an orange biro with a broken clip.

Is the top one a grenade for splitting logs?

 

[Penners]

Here's a chap on the right stretching his lead..

I trust you dress appropriately for the job, Doug, complete with periwig. Standards... standards!