MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Tizer]

You're right about erecting a vertical pole but it's not an antenna.

[PanBiker]

Glad I have the method right. Once erected is it some kind of drilling rig?

[Tizer]

No. Don't get too fixed on the vertical aspect.

[Stanley]

Biggest Maypole in Cornwall? Or is it a navigation mark?

[Tizer]

No to maypole and navigation mark. It's in Wales and is connected with a traditional Welsh industry.

[chinatyke]

It's in Wales and is connected with a traditional Welsh industry.

Obviously for sheep dipping.

[PanBiker]

Cant work out what looks like sleeving is at a couple of places on the main pole. The top looks to be fluted as if it is the top of a pipe rather than a solid pole. Sheep, I think not, Fishing, Slate quarrying or Mining?

[Tizer]

Ah, slate quarrying! Now you're getting somewhere.
I guess you could dip a sheep with it China, but it'd be a rather angry sheep I think!

[PanBiker]

Is it raising a support for the overhead waste carrying system in the slate quarries? I seem to remember lots of overhead cable transport systems around Blaenau Ffestiniog. It always seems to rain when descending through the twisties there as well.

[Tizer]

That's close enough, Ian, well done! I've got to make an apology here. I chanced upon the photo and an explanation of its use while reading something on the web about slate mining in Wales. I thought it would be a good one for this topic and posted the photo. Now I've found the original web site with the photo and the full details and it turns out to be a photo taken at the Slate Valley Museum....in Vermont, USA! Never mind, they probably had something similar in Wales. Here's the web page with the explanation: LINK

[plaques]

After my failed guess at an 'A' frame I did a Google Image search and came up with the same picture. Didn't want to steal your thunder so I let it run. Looks a very 'iffy' way of carrying overhead spoil.

[PanBiker]

Once the pole is upright and guyed correctly it would be a very stable structure and perfectly capable of securing ropes or cables from.

When we deployed our portable antenna mast at 40ft we once had occasion to adjust something at the mast head where the antenna was secured. It was a lot easier to run the triple extension ladder up against the double guyed mast to make the adjustment rather than drop the mast again, properly guyed a vertical pole is as stable as a wall.

[Stanley]

Very similar to the guyed post on the landing winches used for the same job in the NW of the Americas for logging, far heavier loads there.

[Stanley]

Apologies for the shakes, I'm not as steady as I used to be! The date on the hopper is 1909. Question is, where is it? This favours the Barlickers I know, sorry about that!

[plaques]

P1080123AC.jpg

A better picture

[Stanley]

Much better! now where is it?

[Stanley]

How about this for a clue!

[PanBiker]

I know, I have just been in the vicinity taking my car to Tim for an oil change.

[Stanley]

I think we can call that one done and dusted! Try this one....

[chinatyke]

Helmshore?

[Gloria]

Is it a combing machine in a cotton mill?

[Stanley]

Helmshore yes P. Not cotton Gloria, in a fulling mill for woollen cloth. Not combing but very close.....

[chinatyke]

I bet teasels have a lot to do with it!

[Tizer]

Stanley likes to teasle us China!

[Stanley]

China has it of course. It's a teazel raising gig for raising the nap on woollen cloth after it has been fulled. The biggest job when I refurbished it was getting the teazels and stringing them on the beater bars. I seem to remember the source was Spain....
Next one?