The Lemon Fool

SteelCamel wrote:I'm pretty sure number 5 is indeed an electric clock - specifically a slave clock, which would be driven by electrical pulses from a master clock elsewhere in the building so all the clocks stay in step. They were quite common in all kinds of large buildings at one point, but as this one appears to have a drive for hands on both sides I'm guessing it's from a railway station.

"Slave clock" is the answer I was looking for. I understand that this one came from a Belgian cinema. I have the rest of the clock, someone wanted to know if I could make it work (Why me? ).

The master clock would be a very accurate pendulum clock in a wooden case, often oak or, if the business owner really wanted to show off, mahogany. It would send a pulse typically every minute so all of the slave clocks (normally wired in series) would advance one full minute every minute. If you see a clock where the hands advance in one minute intervals, it is probably a slave clock.

Master clocks are so accurate that atmospheric pressure has a noticeable effect. A lower atmospheric pressure causes less drag which causes the clock to slow down. This seems counter-intuitive but, with less drag, the pendulum swings further, thus, the period is slightly greater. Leaving the door open has the same effect.

The one in the photograph requires pulses of alternating polarity. UK ones usually work ok with pulses all of the same polarity.


Julian F. G. W.

Answers so far:

1. Tubeless tyre repair kit.
2. It is one-piece and made of steel. The splines are different each end.
3. Half-mark for film development timer.
4. Half-mark for another close answer.
5. Slave clock movement.
6. Lead bossing stick
7. Nothing to do with leather or suede.
8. cask tap.
9. No guesses yet.
10. Tap reseating tool.

Julian F. G. W.

Rather than a heater, is 4 some sort of temp switch or stat?

Since nobody else has guessed 9 I'll have a stab at some sort of gap measuring tool, maybe to do with spark plugs but it looks a bit big and I'm not sure about all the shaped bits.

4. Heater for glass beakers in a science lab?

7. Veneer hammer

EDIT: 2. Some kind of pipe reamer or deburring tool?

Scott.

Ah, 9 is a bicycle chain wear gauge.

Scott.

doug2500 wrote:Rather than a heater, is 4 some sort of temp switch or stat?

The rod (horizontal in the photo) is a thermostat. What is the whole thing for?

doug2500 wrote:Since nobody else has guessed 9 I'll have a stab at some sort of gap measuring tool, maybe to do with spark plugs but it looks a bit big and I'm not sure about all the shaped bits.

It is a measuring tool (or, technically, a gauge). Nothing to do with spark plugs.

swill453 wrote:4. Heater for glass beakers in a science lab?

Not any sort of lab equipment.

swill453 wrote:7. Veneer hammer

Correct answer Scott. While it is called a hammer, it is not used for hammering. It is used as a sort of squeegie when gluing down veneer.

swill453 wrote:2. Some kind of pipe reamer or deburring tool?

It is not a reamer, deburring tool or any other type of cutter.

swill453 wrote:Ah, 9 is a bicycle chain wear gauge.

Correct answer Scott.

When bicycle chains wear, they get longer. This is called chain stretch (although it is caused by wear, not stretching). Chains should be replaced when they are excessively worn otherwise the sprockets and chain rings will wear prematurely.


Julian F. G. W.

4:
Looks like a ceramic base so I'm assuming that's a heating element running round it?
Temperature probe in the middle?
Hefty terminals, possibly mains.
It's a paraffin wax heater for wax baths used to treat arthritis etc ! Basically a hand/foot spa.

4. I think a previous answer was very close, but I think it's for a ceramic or halogen hob, not an induction one.

Scott.

swill453 wrote:4. I think a previous answer was very close, but I think it's for a ceramic or halogen hob, not an induction one.

Correct answer Scott, it is a ceramic hob element.

A halogen hob element has a tube similar to an old energy-inefficient halogen floodlight tube except that it is bent almost into a circle and it runs red hot, not white hot. They also incorporate a conventional coil, probably to provide sufficient power without costing too much. There are some images here, https://www.google.com/search?q=halogen ... 40&bih=786 , but some of the images are of ceramic elements, not halogen.

Julian F. G. W.

2. Some kind of coupling? Pipe, or hose, or a drive shaft of some kind?

Scott.

jfgw wrote:3. Half-mark for film development timer.

Hmm, I think it's an enlarger timer, and you were a bit harsh only giving half for that

Scott.

swill453 wrote:2. Some kind of coupling? Pipe, or hose, or a drive shaft of some kind?

Not pipe or hose related. "Coupling" or "drive shaft" are more feasible answers but it is neither of those.

swill453 wrote:

jfgw wrote:3. Half-mark for film development timer.

Hmm, I think it's an enlarger timer, and you were a bit harsh only giving half for that

Ok, 3/4 mark. Maybe I am being too pedantic

It is indeed an enlarger timer. A clue is the grommeted hole in the back for a cable. Also, if you look on the black area by the white pointer, you may see the name "Johnson".

It is for timing the exposure of paper, not film, although you could argue that it is for when printing what is on the film. Development is the next stage when the exposed paper is put into a tray of developer and the image appears. (Isn't there a special place on these boards for pedants?)


Julian F. G. W.

Clue for no. 2.

This a complete item, not part of something-else. It is not used as a component part of something-else.


Julian F. G. W.

jfgw wrote:Keep thinking along the lines of an electric clock. I don't want to accept that as the correct answer (that would be too easy), I want something more specific. You may not have heard of one of these before but try to guess what it does.

It is not for controlling a kitchen appliance, street lights or anything-else. There are no electrical contacts, just two terminals for the coils. I did try using it as a flux capacitor to get next week's lottery numbers but it didn't work.

I did wonder if it was a slave clock movement from one of those old company clock systems driven by a master clock, like a Shortt free pendulum movement. But puzzled by it having two output shafts.

PS. Oh! See it has already been answered.

No. 2 is unusual. Looking online at different ones available today, I cannot find any others quite like this one.

If you make some guesses, I will tell you if you are getting warm.


Julian F. G. W.

No 2 does look irritatingly familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Are the knurled bits on a thread or is it all one solid piece?

Is it some form of bush/bearing for a shaft?

--kiloran

No 2 - does the splined bit fit in the hole of something (different sized holes using either side) which can then be turned (wound up?) by using a spanner on the hex nut?

Scott.

kiloran wrote:No 2 does look irritatingly familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Are the knurled bits on a thread or is it all one solid piece?

It is one solid piece.

kiloran wrote:Is it some form of bush/bearing for a shaft?

Not any form of bush or bearing.

swill453 wrote:No 2 - does the splined bit fit in the hole of something (different sized holes using either side) which can then be turned (wound up?) by using a spanner on the hex nut?

Yes, it is used with a spanner to turn something.


Julian F. G. W.

No. 2 - is it for tightening the bottom bracket on a bicycle?

Scott.

No. 2 - is it a conduit joint?

RC