What is my 'thing' ?

You dragged me away from my tank construction to look at that!!!

Ane fule kno it is the fuel filler/filter from the original KrisDel^TM mk1 time machine...it's the only remaining piece...the rest dissapeared back to 1832 or thereabouts .

I just went back tommorow looking, but to no avail. Whilst there I posted my findings forward in time, but I can't remember to what date. One of the 3 turbo-intakes on the outside has fallen off as well.

It can also be used as the bell for a flugel horn, but the resultant sound was so horrible (like a tortured Del the Cat) that it was outlawed in every part of Europe in the 1800's. They had to convert it to spare parts for time machines...

It look like the parts (separation cone & gloat) from a cream separator. The ones that made ting ting when it was on the right speed.

A more refined machine as well. I think this one separate the cream from the Orly whip.

I ting you're right. But, it must just be the insides? Shouldn't there be more?

No far fetched gig here. Not as far as Del´s anyway. I believe he´s right about the fuel part though.. Looks like a gas burner head used for weeding small plots by burning. What about it, Kris?

Warning to all CR4 users.

Kris has previously shown by his posts and thread choice, to be of exceptionally doubtful nature and as such should be regarded as highly likely to want to cause as much confusion and strive as is humanly possible in order to have his wicked way with you.

Don't look at the pictures as they are solely devised to alter your state of mind so you become vulnerable to his brain waves. Instead block all images from CR4 and just tell him we are not interested in his "thing". We know many things could tickle his fancy but we do not want to be part of it.

Na, Kris is cool. he's a silly guy. I'm a silly guy. I like silly guy's. He is very interesting, and a lot of fun. I love confusion. Confusion is my middle name. Bring it on Kris!

That's the middle electrode of a flux capacitor....

or a canootin valve...

or a thistlewick.

Is that the Iron Man's hat of the Wizzard of Ozz?

Gunga Din! You may have all that's left of a bellows...

I am thinking this is an early clothes "washing machine"

without the handle.

You're the closest so far dadbob !

Addendum : You were the correctestest firstest ! Point duly awarded.

Any fuel should kno hits ah fooney l wit ha hinner strinner for ye olde pitch pts.

Hello Kris

It is a ventilated candle-snuffer, without the handle and bracket.

Kind Regards....

You'll all have to forgive the lack of individual replies, but you are all wrong so far ! Hee hee hee.......Some more clues...........It would have originally had a wooden 'handle'. Operating mode would have been on an upright position as shown in the first picture. Sometime (slight guess) circa 1910, it would have been a 'must-have' inside the suburban home. I don't yet know exactly how it was powered, though it may have been a 2-person job. Some versions of this type of thing required a horse and cart to carry the power unit ! Hmmmm........

Hi Kris, Looks to me like the bottom part of what we used to call a "Dolly Washer", Powered by one housewife's hands heaving up and down on an upright wooden handle fixed to the tube at the top. used to wash clothes in a wooden tub of soapy water.

Takes me back a long way. TrevorL

Hi TrevorL, You are indeed correct, as was bobdad at #12 (oops, my bad !). That must be a fair way back - did you ever see one used ? I can recall old fashioned wash-boards and hand-cranked mangles. Anyways, here is some pics pinched off the web ;

The name-plate reads

THE BRITISH VACUUM WASHER Co

THE "SWIFTSURE"

PATENT No 10999/15

DUKE St LIVERPOOL

Hubert Cecil Booth founded the British Vacuum Company in 1901, and I think the makers of this are a subsidiary. Booth is credited with inventing the first vacuum cleaner, though there's lots of contenders. It needed a petrol driven vacuum pump, drawn on a horse carriage. The hose was fed through a house window. Hoovers 'bag-on-stick' arrived in 1907. I digress, as you say it's a 'wash-dolly', or more simply an 'agitator'. I wouldn't want to arm-wrestle the sturdy washer-woman !

Thanks to all. Now I've put you in the frame of mind, you can venture forth and do the spring cleaning ! For the nostalgic, there's one on e-bay for 99p (at present).

Hi Kris, Yes, Liverpool's my home town. I remember Duke Street and the company offices. They were on a corner and had an enormous poster of the dolly washer on the wall. Used to delight this small boy on the way past. TrevorL.

Wow ! It's amazing what connections all the people on CR4 have. I'd never imagined that such a 'thing' would find somebody who'd lived next to where the makers were. Hope you enjoyed the trip down 'memory-lane'.

Awww...I honestly recognized it immediately, as my folks had one (although Mom didn't use it anymore by the time I came along). But I can't get around to these new threads soon enough to get in on any of the fnu...

Right on Charlie Brown.

Had one in an old (pre 1900's) farm house I rented in NE Washington...near Canadian/Idaho border.

MR. GUY

I'm staggered at how many Americans recognize the thing. Do any of you know if the ones remebered were made in the states, or were they imported all the way from Liverpool ?

Kris "Do any of you know if the ones remebered were made in the states,"

Made in the USA.

Before the time when many small items bore the legend: "Made in Japan!"

Most definitely made in the U.S.A. - but nowadays, it would read "made in China".

Too many hints it's a Vacuum Cleaner nozzle ...or is it

<......an upright position.....>

According to NASA's terminology, the Apollo capsule containing the three astronauts adopted the "stable 1 position" after splashdown. In the event of it tending to the "stable 2 position", a set of buoyancy balloons were inflated to prevent its getting there.

The top picture shows the stable 1 position, and it looks as though the buoyancy balloons have failed in the lower picture. Back to the drawing board......

I almost feel a song coming on..........

"Rocket Man"?

"Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?"

Or as we young wags re-wrote it:

"Who's the maker of the club that's made for you and me?"

L-O-U I-S-V I-L-L-L-E!

Yes, 100% - I used one as a lad in a wash tub.
(soon got fed up though!)

I was intrigued by how it "worked" - but not by
my aching arms, - and always tried to disappeared
sharp-ish, when I was to be "found" something to do!

Shows my humble beginnings (violins) - but we soon
got rich - and had a iron mangle! (much more interesting)

After a few finger pinches, I found a respect for any
machines larger than me. Happy days!!!

jt.

I used to be in archeology..but moved on,
when I realised my whole life was in ruins....

LOL. You probably had good reason to do a disappearing act - working one of those 'dollies' must have been real hard work. Guys like you and Stan must have developed pretty good arm muscles, or at least leg muscles ! I'm surprised that old fshioned mangles haven't re-emerged to cater for those who want to cut down electricity consumption. Maybe too much clothing now has buttons/zips that would break. Even seeing kids wash the car is a rarity these days. Keep 'em busy and out of mischief I say !

Kris you fooled me by showing a left handed one.
Had you shown the right handed version I'd have recognised it immediately .

Del

Del, all you had to do is look at the mirror image, and it should have been instantly clear. If the mirror was moving away at nearly the speed of light, then you could have seen the "thingy" in action, some years ago.

Don't KrisDel^TM do both? Ooooh! How sinister (L: left-handed) is that?

As a young boy (about 6) i saw one of these in action. My Dad (Auburn Mech. Engr.) rigged up this device to a bunch of pulleys, belts and a one cylinder gas engine to *invent* Mom a washing machine. I think Mom was afraid of it because I don't remember it after the *inventing*.

After reading all the replies, I am personally of the opinion that if we had been told its approximate size and if it had been shown with its handle attached and the pix had been a tiny bit better in focus, we would ALL of us know IMMEDIATELY what it was.....do you not agree fellow CR4 members?

I dunno about that - they haven't been in common use for many years - I know about them from my folks having an old one about as a curiosity, and I'm forty-twenty years old... A bit better focus might have made it easier but it wouldn't have made it newer or us older.

Sorry Andy, I don't care how well presented I would not have any idea what it is. In fact, we have been told now what it is, and I am still not sure I know what it is...

Same here. I still would have thought it was a thistlewick.

It may BE a thistlewick. We only have Kris' word that it really is what some thought it to be. Can ye trust a skwirrel, laddie? Something tells me the nut magnet has something up the sleeve what ain't arm here... This post was far too benevolent.

You are taking this FAR too seriously, OF COURSE none of us had a clue what it was, I was just trying to stir things up a bit!!!!! eg. Have some fun!!!!

MAN, you Guys are slow on the uptake this week!!!

So does that mean it IS or is NOT a thistlewick? Inquiring minds want to know...

Sir ! You besmirch the reputation of a fine photographer.

Mr D. Bailey.

Ye Gads ! Recant. Soft-focus is a dying art !

Outraged, from Tonbridge.