Another Mystery Tool

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Gardener on 23/03/2017 18:31:20:

When I was a plumber, years ago, someone gave me exactly the same piece of kit. It was in my shed for years and I think I left it behind in a house move. I never knew what it was, test piece was my only conclusion. I can die happy now. Thanks

.

I have to ask, John … did you leave it anywhere near Northwich ?

[ That would make it a very small world. ]

MichaelG.

.

http://northwichauction.co.uk

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 23/03/2017 20:51:15

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Nick Hulme on 23/03/2017 20:19:26:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 22/03/2017 20:18:41:

The other object is also an interesting one.

When I was in school the label 'Shatter Resistant' was always seen as a challenge

Neil

They used to say "SHATTERPROOF" now that really was a challenge

– Nick

You are right!

Well they were proved wrong plenty of times!

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I,v got some G clamps with UNBREAKABLE cast on them, the four 4" ones are bent.

As far as feet go, there is a good chance of them being different size, maybe only fractional.

Ian S C

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

I broke, snapped and bent many of these rulers but never had one actually 'shatter' under normal conditions; dip it in liquid nitrogen and hit it and it will surely shatter but in normal use?

Just a thought.

Martin W

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 24/03/2017 00:01:19:

Posted by Nick Hulme on 23/03/2017 20:19:26:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 22/03/2017 20:18:41:

The other object is also an interesting one.

When I was in school the label 'Shatter Resistant' was always seen as a challenge

Neil

They used to say "SHATTERPROOF" now that really was a challenge

– Nick

You are right!

Well they were proved wrong plenty of times!

Neil

Proof is one of those words isn't it? You know, like 'list' , 'sophisticated' and 'organic', where the same word has different meanings depending on context, and perhaps where some of the meanings have changed over time.

Generally I think 'proof' means something like 'fully resistant', as in 'waterproof'. With that interpretation, claiming a plastic rule to be 'Shatterproof' is a damned lie.

But the word 'proof' has a different meaning when applied to subjects like gun barrels or alcohol. Then 'proof' means a test, and the test need not be absolute. In gun barrel proof, the test only 'proves' that the barrel is safe under agreed conditions; it does not mean you can stuff the barrel with TNT to 'improve' the weapon.

Dave

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Much as I hate to disagree with SoD, 'shatter' means to break into many pieces, so as long as when you snap it it is in 2 or 3 bits, then it is shatter proof. My particulat pet hate with advertisers is 'up to'. Save up to 60% is totally meaningless, as zero saving is 'up to 60%'.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Posted by Mike Poole on 23/03/2017 14:27:58:

Posted by Robbo on 22/03/2017 19:03:56:

Plus 1 for Journeyman. I've just put a modern version into one of my new shoes. Do we all have one foot longer than t'other?

No, I've got one foot shorter than the other

Mike

I knew someone would say that, but it took longer than I expected. Thanks Mike.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Mike on 23/03/2017 20:24:53:

There are lots of words ending in "proof" which really are a load of rubbish. My favourite is "bulletproof." In practice, you can break anything if you hit it hard enough. That should be written into the basic laws of physics. Maybe it is somewhere, and it is me who is not well enough educated.

You're absolutely right, if something strikes another object with meteoric force, something has to give. You may have notice though they've sneaked past this upset by now branding such goods as "resistant" rather than proof, which would wrongly imply a degree of imperviousness.

Some things like high-end safety gear and military equipment, will actually tell you what it is expected to resist and specifies the scope of how good it is supposed to be. But you've got to pay for that privilege of time and expense spent on doing so.

Michael W

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

What about FOOLPROOF ? Is there such a thing? Judging by some of the morons I,ve come across,I doubt it !

JUST A THOUGHT !!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Robbo on 25/03/2017 19:32:50:

Posted by Mike Poole on 23/03/2017 14:27:58:

Posted by Robbo on 22/03/2017 19:03:56:

Plus 1 for Journeyman. I've just put a modern version into one of my new shoes. Do we all have one foot longer than t'other?

No, I've got one foot shorter than the other

Mike

I knew someone would say that, but it took longer than I expected. Thanks Mike.

Both my feet are too short. How I balance 6' 2" on size 8 feet is one of nature's mysteries.

Neil

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Posted by larry Phelan on 25/03/2017 20:08:29:

What about FOOLPROOF ? Is there such a thing? Judging by some of the morons I,ve come across,I doubt it !

JUST A THOUGHT !!

One only has to give something FOOLPROOF to an idiot to see there is no such thing as foolproof

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/03/2017 20:52:22:

Posted by Robbo on 25/03/2017 19:32:50:

Posted by Mike Poole on 23/03/2017 14:27:58:

Posted by Robbo on 22/03/2017 19:03:56:

Plus 1 for Journeyman. I've just put a modern version into one of my new shoes. Do we all have one foot longer than t'other?

No, I've got one foot shorter than the other

Mike

I knew someone would say that, but it took longer than I expected. Thanks Mike.

Both my feet are too short. How I balance 6' 2" on size 8 feet is one of nature's mysteries.

Neil

Your feet are much much bigger than the tyre contact area of my bike but I can balance on it fine so you must be doing something right

[JOHN MANTOVAParticipant @johnmantova72105]

Definetly a shoe stretcher I was a shoeshop manager and had half a dozen of them of one sort or another.Some all metal and chrome plated. Talking of metal does anyone know where I can get some EB 30N or free cutting Nichrome steel barstock for a model engine crankshaft ?

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Neil must be moving very fast !. I'm 6'-2" with size 13s. Problem with a lot of modern cars getting feet in . I've got a pair of shoe stretchers as photo but plastic wedge and nuts, had remake some bits but now do a good job- hint, if you use them dampen the leather first.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm reminded of the following quote I read once, many years ago: "If your hat is too tight, damp the head with steam from a hot kettle".

Neil

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

Is it correct to say…..one foot longer. or one foot shorter (than the other)?????

On a matter of recent how many people noticed the increased use of "Lockdown" and "convert to Islam"

How much lock and how down if any??????

Converted from where????????

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

I have a condition in my feet which requires the NHS to make my shoes for me and at my first fitting I noticed the specialist was writing down slightly difference sizes for each foot so I asked him why and he confirmed that feet and other parts of our carcus are not exactly the same size.

Martin P

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Sometimes, it seems, the purpose of the forum is to supply the steam to damp the head and shrink the hat.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

" he confirmed that feet and other parts of our carcus are not exactly the same size."

Martin P

I used to wish that other parts of my carcase were the same size as my (size 12) feet, but not any more!

[MikelkieParticipant @mikelkie]

Anyone knows what this is ? unable to unscrew cap, corroded dipped into some release agent and try again. Someone applied a pliers or something and damaged the cap perhaps squeezed it oval

[Danny HeghParticipant @dannyhegh44921]

It'a Ginness beer container too keep an Irish navi's Ginness warm so he could have a hot drink while digging canals during the winter in England, the tool at the side was to get lumpy bits at the bottom a bit like the thermal coffee mugs you get today

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Mine is a methelated spirit blow lamp. The gubbins on the right hand side ( lower picture ) on mine is a rubber tube with a mouthpiece at the lower end, the top of which is a brass tube that bends over the small cap The body of the lamp is filled with cotton wool. If you can unscrew the small cap you should find a wick. In use you put meths in the body and when the wick has soaked it up you blow through the rubber tube having lit the wick. I have used it for small silver soldering jobs

Similar to the spirit lamp used by watch and clock makers with a separate blow pipe

Roy

Edited By roy entwistle on 02/04/2017 21:51:46

[MikelkieParticipant @mikelkie]

Thanx for the info Roy, managed to get the thing open and yes some cotton wool, a wick and a strong smell of meths. or perhaps very matured Guinness

Edited By Mikelkie on 03/04/2017 11:24:09

Edited By Mikelkie on 03/04/2017 11:26:15

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I suggest the little table is to put things on over the flame to heat-blue them.

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

I'm with Roy Entwhistle on this one. My parents home was gaslit my father had a similar item and was the only heat source for soft soldering. His hobby was making ciggie lighters from bullet type items that used to fall from the sky at that time. When I became interested in mending bikes and m/c s I purchased a NEW twin cylinder version "Vapour-something" one tube meths the other side c/wool with a burner head rather like a mini blowlamp.It is possible that the mystery item is used simply as a jewellers spirit lamp still used today

[Author]

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