MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Tizer]

Now for something a bit more genteel. What's this?...

[Gloria]

A face mask for the sabden treacle miners when they come above ground???

[Stanley]

I don't know, but it's on my worktop!

[Tizer]

Very entertaining, but you're both wrong!

[David Whipp]

Failed plug extrusion...

[Marilyn]

Cant think of any use for it...

[Stanley]

Is it a template for marking the position of holes? Or possibly you open it, place a membrane inside and close it, punching or at least marking, two holes?

[chinatyke]

A gauge for checking the diameter of spaghetti strands.

Can also be used for doubling knitting wool.

[Tizer]

China has come close with the word `gauge'. Try a bit of lateral thinking, take a different perspective.

[Stanley]

Is it a template for marking hole positions for hinges when erecting cupboards?

[Tizer]

A good thought, but no. I think it's time for me to level with you and admit that you are seeing the back of the object - the other side is the important part. Ignore the holes and think why it might be T-shaped.

[chinatyke]

Is it a spirit level? One horizontal and one vertical. And could the sides be used for checking the angles 30/60 degrees? This one came from the ruins around the Great Pyramid of Giza and was thought to have been used by Nebuchadnezzar II in 580BC. Alternate use would be to ensure screw or bolt holes are marked correctly prior to drilling as Stanley suggested.

[Stanley]

Protector to make a plug socket child proof?

[Big Kev]

Do you own a caravan, Tiz?

[Julie in Norfolk]

Is it "T" shaped because you are trying to "T"ease us?

[Big Kev]

Do you own a caravan, Tiz?

[Tizer]

No I don't own a caravan, Kev, but you've got (or copied a photo of) the same thing. Chinatyke got it first with his question "Is it a spirit level? One horizontal and one vertical." As for "Could the sides be used for checking the angles 30/60 degrees?" it's more like 20/70 but not exactly. Otherwise I don't know if these are sold for a specific use. We went to a housebuilding show and Mrs Tiz came away with a bag of free goodies, this being one of them. It was in a plain plastic bag with no label or other information. A bit small I would have thought for a housebuilder to use - although some of the houses I see these days could have been built using one! Do people screw them onto caravans Kev? Thanks everyone for the the creative suggestions, it's always very entertaining as well as educational.

[Marilyn]

We had one in our last van! Magnetic...and it was very useful as the 3 way fridge needed to be level to operate properly.
I bought one for our new van, but it is still in it's packet...as it is not so important in a 2way fridge ( electric/solar); fridge works well at all angles.

[Big Kev]

What Marilyn said

[Stanley]

Well I never......

[LizG]

We have one permanently on the draw bar of our caravan. Easy way to level up. It's awful sleeping downhill!!

Friends of ours, new to caravanning, pulled up and didn't bother to level up sideways. The next morning they were both on the same third of the bed.

[Tizer]

In the 1960s I went camping on Cairngorm with three mates. We had an old army tent big enough for the four of us to sleep sideways. We woke up the first morning with us all having slid out of the tent up to our knees and the bottom of each sleeping bag soaking wet. We should be grateful for the subsequent invention of sewn-in groundsheets!

[Marilyn]

I feel queasy if the caravan isn't level.
We have a sloping driveway, and I feel crook cleaning the inside of it at an angle. I would be hopeless as a sailor!
As I recall, I wasn't that clever on the "One and All" ( sailing ship)... and I had to pass on the offer of food onboard.
The ferry crossing to Ireland was fine though. It was a rough day but a very big ferry...so it seemed pretty steady.
I think the ferry crossing to Kangaroo Island was the worst one.

[Stanley]

When I went on the troopship Empire Parkeston from Harwich to the Hook in 1954 they served mulligatawny soup and rolls for the meal. It was easier to hose down than diced carrots......

[Stanley]

Can you tell me what this is?