MYSTERY OBJECTS

[PanBiker]

Just Googled it and it was probably a Bush BP61 made by Mullard.

Bush BP61

[Stanley]

What is it?

[Tizer]

That looks to me like a boring photograph.

[Stanley]

I think you know what it is Peter.....

[Stanley]

Tell them what it is Peter!

[Tizer]

For boring holes to let pipes through, I guess. But I'm no expert!

[Stanley]

You've got it Peter. It's a vintage tank cutter for doing exactly that, boring large holes in the sides of tanks for fitting pipes.
Next one?

[Stanley]

What is it and where?

[Stanley]

No interest? I'll knock it on the head at dinner time.....

[Gloria]

An old steamer in the United States?

[Steeplejerk]

African Queen

[Stanley]

Too big Tom. We are going to have to give it to Gloria because she is right. Whilst I was in San Francisco Susie took me to see a graveyard for obsolete ferries on the north side of the bay. This is a derelict steam driven ferry....
Some of the wrecks were inhabited by squatters.......
Next one?

[Big Kev]

IMG_20231010_163340~2.jpg

Where is this?

[PanBiker]

Blackpool front if I am not mistaken.

[Big Kev]

Blackpool front if I am not mistaken.

You're not and it is, that didn't last long

[Stanley]

If it's any consolation Kev, it had me baffled especially the German bit!



What is it?

[Stanley]

No offers? It's been on before..... If there is no traffic I'll kill it later today...

[Tripps]

What size?

Dice cup? spirit measure? Engineer's turned plant pot?

[Stanley]

I can see why that question arises David but I don't think the answer would have helped.
All right, I'll give you a big clue. I'll tell you the size in a different way.
It holds a quarter Seer of rice.

[Stanley]

No takers.... It's a brass rice measure from India and holds a quarter of a Seer.
Next one?

[Tripps]

brass rice measure from India and holds a quarter of a Seer.

I'm OK with Rods, Poles, and Perches, and even a Kati at a pinch, but a Seer is a new one for me.

In India, the seer was a traditional unit used mostly in Northern India including Hindi speaking region, Telangana in South. Officially, seer was defined by the Standards of Weights and Measures Act (No. 89 of 1956, amended in 1960 and 1964) as being exactly equal to 1.25 kg (2.755778 lb). However, there were many local variants of the seer in India. Note the chart below gives maund weight for Mumbai, divide by 40 to get a seer.

[Stanley]

I apologise for this being off-piste but the field of weights and measures is a fascinating one and purely by accident I came across this authority....
A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles By Ronald Zupko. Published by The American Philosophical Society
It is still available and is a brilliant publication. Professor Zupko has made this his research field for many years and his dictionary is a defining work. If you have a question about British weights and measures, even as far back as sub-medieval times, this is the place to go.
HERE'S a link to an ex library copy on Bookfinder for under £11. Go for it, you will never regret it!

[Gloria]

IMG_4323.jpeg

What is this?

[Big Kev]

Is it an on/off switch for something?

[PanBiker]

Is it a cable entry/exit for a worktop or desk?