MYSTERY OBJECTS

[chinatyke]

...we always castrated our own pigs and me and Ted Waite did a bullock once at Hey Farm. I've done hot iron and cord-stop castrations as well as straight incision..... but if done properly very kind to the beasts and much less after effects than say a full anaesthetic.

One Hey Farm bullock to the other:
Look, here comes that very kind Stanley with his castrating knife.
Second bullock: What does he do with his knife?
2 minutes later:
MOO. FFS. Ouch. Snort.
Translation: Thank you Stanley that was very kind of you.

[Stanley]

You can laugh China but even a bullock done with a hot iron walks away into the field straight afterwards and starts grazing. They don't do that if they are full of anaesthetic. Try this one.....

[Gloria]

A brush used when cleaning fire out?

[Tizer]

The prototype tickling stick?

[Wendyf]

A hot iron for some farming task like removing calves horns?

[Marilyn]

I don't even want to imagine what that is for...

[Stanley]

Got to give it to Wendy, it's a hot iron for castrating bullocks and colts. You got it red hot and used it as a knife. It cauterised the wound as you cut. I suspect Maz had got that as well!

[chinatyke]

You can laugh China but even a bullock done with a hot iron walks away into the field straight afterwards and starts grazing. They don't do that if they are full of anaesthetic.

[Tripps]

I've just come back from a little adventure - a bit of a variation on the theme "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple"

Here's one of the things I saw - what is it? Actually I've no idea - It was far too cold stand around and read the blurb - it's a mystery, but I'm sure someone one here will know.

P1000657.JPG

[Stanley]

It is a cast iron base for something heavy to rotate on. If it was on a wharf it would be a crane, if on a fortification, a base for an artillery piece. The square piece and rods don't look original to me...

[PanBiker]

I posted a reply to this last night but it's disappeared ? I also said it was a base for artillery, it looks coastal so maybe harbour defence.

[plaques]

I think we looked at something very similar in the past, a torpedo gun mounting, Not 100% sure but a definite maybe.

Torpedo gun.JPG

[Tizer]

Or a winch for pulling boats or for moving a sliding or rotating bridge, perhaps?

[Tripps]

Thanks for the suggestions - I guess any of them could be correct. I'm still not sure. I'll read the notice next time, but it was very very cold and windy. The photo was taken on Sunday at Seaton Sluice - between Whitley Bay and Blyth in Northumberland. I had seen it in the current TV series of VERA last week, and being in the area just had to take a look.

P1000660.JPG

P1000658.JPG

Bit of a culture shock being in the North East - people actually like to speak to you. I noticed that the statue of TOMMY is in the opening titles of the local TV news progamme. That's good.

[Stanley]

While we're up there..... Try this one.

[plaques]

For Tripps, Talked to my pal up at Newbiggin by the sea he said there were a number of battery installations from Blyth down to towards the Tyne river. and that some of the WW1 may still exist. Also from a Seaton Sluice website Link.. 'Defence of this industrialised coast has always been a priority. The Delaval Battery is the earliest of these works, built in the 17th century by Sir Ralph Delaval. In World War I (1914-18) Robert's Battery was built, an unusual coastal turret battery that allowed the defence of both the Blyth and Tyne river mouths at far greater ranges. The same site was reused World War II (1939-45) as a Chain Home Low radar site for defence against air attack, with anti-glider ditches being dug at Holywell and surrounding area. Smaller defences included a series of pillboxes along the coast, such as Sandy Island'.

[plaques]

Still up in Geordie land. The Collingwood Monument, near the Tynemouth priory. Our Geordie Mafia will know that there are some good flea markets in this area.

[Stanley]

Quite right P, next one?

[Stanley]

What can you tell me about this.....

[Marilyn]

Saw many of these in my childhood.
Every Saturday was "nit search" day in the children's home. A white cloth was spread over a table and every child had to step forward to have their hair searched for nits. Depending on the result, you either went left or right after that!
Nit treatment was not fun. The hair was shaved off entirely, your skull was rubbed with something noxious and you had to wear a bright pink elasticised cap day and night for ages. This had to be worn to school....and the bullying was horrendous!
Had to do the "walk of shame" a few times...

[Tripps]

For Tripps, Talked to my pal up at Newbiggin by the sea he said there were a number of battery installations from Blyth down to towards the Tyne river. and that some of the WW1 may still exist. Also from a Seaton Sluice website

Thanks for the help - I may well be going back later this year when the weather is better. I want to look at this Northuberlandia, and since Newbiggin has been mentioned a few times on here - I'd like to take a look there too,

[Stanley]

Dead right Maz. I use it to search Jack for fleas in summer.....
Next one?
I have happy memories of Newbiggin.... Jack, the old pit deputy with his 'serstificate' from the NCB for 50 years underground nailed on the coal shed door in the back yard.....



Jack in retirement shortly before he died from a chest complaint.....

[chinatyke]

A lot of nostalgia in that picture.

The 'serstificate' reminded me of a story told to me by a work colleague. His brother was called to his employer's main office in Manchester for a presentation ceremony when he was retiring after 30 years working for them. He thought he would get a gold watch or mantle clock but was duly presented with an illuminated scroll. The employer was one of the railway companies but I can't remember if it was British Rail or LMS.

Sorry, I forgot an important part of the story, the man had not had a day off due to sickness in all his time working for them, which I guess is why they thought it necessary to give him scroll.

[Tizer]

`Serstificate' - on a trip back to my parents in Blackburn whilst an undergraduate I met the father of one of my old school mates. I asked him what his son was doing these days. The reply was: "He's doing well, he works on them there commuters".
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Let's see what you make of this mystery object...

[PanBiker]

I reckon it's a cake from one of those talented cake fairies. Looks like it commemorating some telecommunication achievement.