firbeck 859 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Following Fyngers succesful Blue Thing Quiz, here's another. Can you tell me what these objects were used for, they both performed the same function, one is surprisingly, given it's importance, crudely made of wood, the other is Bakelite, which has writing on it that would give the game away. I also have other examples that are made of cast iron, though they're in the loft, but they aren't much different from the wooden example, apart from a few Victorian embelishments. They all come from the Nottingham area, any ideas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,619 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Anything to do with electricity? overhead wires or similar Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Owt tado wi lace makin? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Golf Ball washer ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Nope There's a clue with regard to recent postings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trafalger 1 Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Boot puller offerer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 What size are they ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Good question Fynger, the wooden one is 115mm long and 60mm wide, I've just been rooting around in the garage trying to find the cast iron ones, they're in an old biscuit tin along with some related items, but I can't find it at the moment. I have found a pic on Wiki of one of the wooden ones actually in use, but that would give the game away. I can't actually work out how the Bakelite thingy performs the same function, but apparently it does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Are they stands for something ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 No, they have a preventative function, as I said, they relate to a recent thread. You know me, yes, they have railway origins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Wheel Chocks.....to 'prevent' them moving. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,619 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I take it from the obvious lack of response they are nothing to do with electricity or overhead wires then? Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 The one on the right looks like something we used to put in brickwork to 'tie' two walls together> (But not made out of bakelite though!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 A peg and a tag for a signal lever? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Do they clamp the rails down ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Sorry Rog, nowt to do with overhead wires, Bakelite wall ties sound like they could have been a good idea though Beefsteak, I wonder whether anybody ever tried it. Littlebro has it spot on. If a train was stationary at a stop signal, the wooden block was slipped over the lever arm and clip preventing it from being moved until the bell code from the next signal box up the line gave him clearance to do so, you can see it in postition in this picture:- I assume that the Bakelite peg would have been hung on there as well as a reminder, as I can't see how it would have impeded the movement of the lever:- The cast iron examples, that I still can't find, have 'Stop' cast into the front of them, I presume that when these got misplaced that the wooden ones were cheaper to produce. These two examples came from Carrington Street signal box by the way, between the tunnels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 We knew that just wondered if you did.....YEAH RIGHT !!!!! !bravo! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,619 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Still think you should write that book Pete!!! Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Funny isn't it, I move one box to change a light bulb in the garage and find the biscuit tin. Here's a couple of pics of the slightly different cast iron lever collars, roughly the same size as the wooden one, the one on the right is Midland Railway in origin from Wollaton Colliery Sidings Box:- While wer're on the subject, here's a selection of lever plates, from various places including Eastwood and Annesley sheds, the one that gets me is the square jobby refering to Northampton, I believe it's LMS in origin but haven't a clue where that one came from, Nottingham area, but any ideas? If I've time tomorrow I have a good quiz question for Beefsteak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Its a plane !!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,619 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 It's a photo of a plane in Cornwall!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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