Whatsit?

[Flyfisher]

Seems to be a pretty good concealment strategy. I can't see any elephants in that photo.

 

[DJH]

:lol:

The latest object is to make small holes in the ground to aerate the soil and consequently improve the lawn. They had a lot of time on their hands in the 19th C.

I've read through the explanation of the previous mystery object, and no doubt it's a good one, but I'm none the wiser. :lol:

Drains and soil pipes need to be air and water tight and many years ago when these soil pipes were predominately made from lead or cast iron they had to be tested to ensure their integrity. A stopper was put in the top of the soil pipe and the machine in the picture was connected via a pipe to the bottom of the pipe, usually where it connected with a manhole outside. An oily rag was set alight and placed in the right hand container and the lid put on over it.

The bellows, operated by the handle that's stuck up on the far side, were then pumped up sending the smoke under pressure up the pipe. As I said before the smoke would come out of the smallest pinhole revealing where the pipe had a leak.

Sanitary Engineering, after the death of Prince Albert from typhoid caused, they said, from leaking drains at Windsor Castle, became the 'dot com' business of the time and it's amusing reading books on the subject from the time where each author maintains that his book is the best and he's describing the only correct method of doing things properly.

 

[DJH]

A clue for the Whatsit. It has more to do with elephants than custard.......

 

[LadyArowana]

A clue for the Whatsit. It has more to do with elephants than custard.......

I know it isn't the thing you use to steer an elephant, would recognise that even though I don't have one, the very beautiful piece i saw for sale in Kensington Church St was £750, bet they're much cheaper in India. Good thing all my elephants behave.

 

[DJH]

Ok I'll knock this one on the head........

It was described to me as a balling tube. It's function is to deliver medicine in the form of a tablet to the back of say a cows mouth where it's going to be swallowed like it or not..

Ready for another??

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, poo! I should have known that then!!! It's exactly like a plastic thing that cannot be talked about at length on a forum of this nature but some ladies might know what I'm talking about...

Thanks for the good description of the pipes DJH (do you have another name?). I understand now. 8)

Yes, ready for another.

 

[DJH]

Sorry about the foam. around the door frame. It's there to stop rain blowing in and won't be there forever. 8)

Another easy one.........

 

[LadyArowana]

Yes, another strange object please, you have the best collection of odd things.

 

[DJH]

Is this what you mean.... :shock:






Doug. (Douglas when I'm in trouble )

 

[worms]

Oh dear, I should have got the balling gun! Never seen one like that, though.

The next one is surely a long handled, foot dibber, for planting cabbages - you walk in front making the holes using the latest technology to avoid the need to bend down and the wife & kids follow on with the plants and do the difficult bit!

 

[DJH]

That's right Worms. Also good for spuds as well.........

How about this then.





Good luck

Doug

 

[DJH]

This one I showed earlier is a syringe type jobby to give enemas....... :shock: :shock:



Doug

 

[DJH]

Ahhh, is it an ice pick/breaker upperer?

Edit: Love those plaques, are they insurance signs for the fire services?

Sorry Jellyfire I missed your comment about the fire marks. They're not originals I'm afraid but the were taken off some originals that a few insurance companies have.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I wasn't thinking of an enema earlier, that's worse! More a certain product that shall we say rebalances a lady if she is suffering from, um, hot weather and adverse conditions. And this product is used with just such an inserting implement. That's all I'm saying. :wink:

Lovely game Doug!

I'd like to buy the latest implement as a small pendant; I love gardening!

 

[worms]

Tail-docking iron?

 

[DJH]

Spot on again Worms.

Just one more and then has someone else got a 'Whatsit' somewhere?

This one is about 2ft 6in or so long. I'll get another picture tomorrow.

 

[worms]

Spot on again Worms.

Wow! Didn't really expect that...but I am still sore about missing the balling gun!

 

[DJH]

It's heated and used to cauterize the wound. Here's a similar one used, I suspect, by vets rather than anyone else although I'm really just going by the 'nice' handle.



Do you have a whatsit for us Worms?

 

[worms]

I would have guessed that last one as a dehorning/disbudding iron rather than a tail-docking one.

Do you have a whatsit for us Worms?

Sadly, I dont! I have a garage full of junk, but none of it vaguely interesting, unusual, valuable or even worth holding on to!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Ok. try this.