MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Quite right, I meant this year! It's my age you know........

[Stanley]

Try this one.....

[PanBiker]

Clock winder?

[chinatyke]

Made by Johnny?

[Tizer]

Starting handle for Noddy's car?

[Marilyn]

Window opener?

[Stanley]

Sorry, no to all. Not made by Johnny, standard office equipment in its day.

[PanBiker]

Winder from an adding machine?

[Tizer]

Part of a pencil sharpener?

[chinatyke]

Sorry, no to all. Not made by Johnny, standard office equipment in its day.

I've just remembered what it is. Long time since I worked at Windle & Bowker. That is a clue!

[Stanley]

You've got a good memory China. Here's another clue.

[Stanley]

I think you'd better enlighten the masses China!

[Tizer]

I still think it's for opening cans of tuna! Perhaps during the accountants' lunch hour.

[chinatyke]

It's a winding handle that you insert in ledger splines to open them for insertion or removal of loose pages, typically used for company book-keeping and minutes. It's 55 years since I used one at W & B.

[Stanley]

Exactly right China. The one I have is unused and is a ledger. God knows what they would cost today! Next one?

[Stanley]

Try this one. It's a shuttle of course but what's special about it?

[Stanley]

No takers?

[Tizer]

It looks smaller than normal

[plaques]

Would I get a gold medal if I got this thread correct?

[PanBiker]

It looks like it takes a bobbin rather than a pirn.

[Stanley]

P has got it. No. it's a fairly common shuttle but specialised.

[Tizer]

Very clever, Plaques! Thanks for the double clue! Although if I were to be pedantic I'd point out that the `gold' thread was never really gold, just a coating on a cheaper metal. Assuming that object's done, how about this? Where and what is it?

[Stanley]

You've got there! It's a shuttle for carrying a bobbin of gold thread for weaving into goods for the Indian market. Are you sure in your assertion Tiz that it was base metal? That isn't my information and remember it had to stand up to repeated washing.
The room. It looks communal, educational, has feeding arrangements and whispers Icelandic or far North of Scandinavia to me. One thing certain, no indigenous trees, everything seems to be made of plywood or possibly driftwood. Icelandic Clarion House?

[Tizer]

Gold thread...have a look at this article from the V&A Museum conservators: LINK

You are getting warm with your mention of high latitudes and lack of trees! But it's not a Clarion House (as far as I know!).

[Wendyf]

Simpson's Gold Thread Works in Preston manufactured gold thread up until 1990. Our history society were given a very interesting talk about it a few years ago. It was made a fine wire of silver and copper encased in gold leaf.