magnetman Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Any ideas? I found it on the Thames foreshore near Wapping/Limehouse. its hand forged iron - the ball is solid and heavy. I know its probably not a canal boat item but judging by the vast knowledge displayed here I think someone will know what it is. The background in the picture is standard size decking so gives a scale.
RLWP Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Half the cross bar from an anchor? Richard
magnetman Posted September 21, 2016 Author Report Posted September 21, 2016 Was my first thought - its got a sort of shackle bit at the other end. Anchors I have seen have a bar without a joint. I suppose it could be from a folding anchor maybe.
RLWP Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 off a ships bell maybe? At that size, it would be from a church bell Richard
Harpur Hill Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Difficult to tell without seeing in person so to speak but could be the counterweight from a fly press?
magnetman Posted September 21, 2016 Author Report Posted September 21, 2016 Fly press was my second thought but not sure the ball would be in a line like that - and usually two balls. . Ships bell looks possible but its rather large ! I suppose it could he out of a church bell does look very like what GG just posted a pic of. And without the 'tail' attachment but AFAIK church bells are sounded by manipulation of the bell itself rather the dangly bit in the middle.
magnetman Posted September 21, 2016 Author Report Posted September 21, 2016 Did a Google search of 'bell clapper' that was a bit dodgy
GoodGurl Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 (edited) Did a Google search of 'bell clapper' that was a bit dodgy try CLANGER Edited September 21, 2016 by GoodGurl
magnetman Posted September 21, 2016 Author Report Posted September 21, 2016 (edited) Thanks. That's a lot better Edited September 21, 2016 by magnetman
PaulG Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Cannonballs came in all kinds of shapes and sizes...
tillergirl Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 (edited) Did a Google search of 'bell clapper' that was a bit dodgy Oh-oh yes i had to didn't I ? Jingle all the way..... Edited September 21, 2016 by tillergirl
bizzard Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Any ideas? I found it on the Thames foreshore near Wapping/Limehouse. its hand forged iron - the ball is solid and heavy. I know its probably not a canal boat item but judging by the vast knowledge displayed here I think someone will know what it is. The background in the picture is standard size decking so gives a scale. Kojak's lollipop.
The Lockie Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Field corrector. For a magnetic compass one either side i think.. Not sure. If field corrector is the right terminology
howardang Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Field corrector. For a magnetic compass one either side i think.. Not sure. If field corrector is the right terminology I think you mean soft iron correctors, colloquially known as "Kelvins Balls". However, I don't think that this is one. They don't normally have a bar attached as in this example, but rather a small plinth which engages in a moveable clamp. Howard
The Lockie Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 Yep thats what I meant!! Just struggled to retrieve the info from the brain cell!!
nbfiresprite Posted September 21, 2016 Report Posted September 21, 2016 It could be part of a 'Loggerhead' (ball of iron with a long handle, used, after being heated, to melt tar),
zenataomm Posted September 22, 2016 Report Posted September 22, 2016 Might it be a cast finial? I'm thinking the sort of thing the Victorians liked to stick on top of buildings/signal posts etc.
cuthound Posted September 22, 2016 Report Posted September 22, 2016 (edited) Probably one of Thomas Crapper's prototype ball valves. Edited for spillung. Edited September 22, 2016 by cuthound
Sir Nibble Posted September 22, 2016 Report Posted September 22, 2016 It could be part of a 'Loggerhead' (ball of iron with a long handle, used, after being heated, to melt tar), That was my first thought too.
magnetman Posted September 22, 2016 Author Report Posted September 22, 2016 (edited) Probably one of Thomas Crapper's prototye ball valves. yes I considered that before I picked it up. I found a very nice iron boathook - broken down the middle unfortunately. It was near the ball thing. I think two sailors were at loggerheads and had a fight one with a boathook and one with the ball thing Whatever happened someone did something slightly severe with this rather fine boat hook: Definitely a story there (Second pic shows what it would have been like before it got broken) Edited September 22, 2016 by magnetman
magnetman Posted September 22, 2016 Author Report Posted September 22, 2016 Having cleaned the ball I see it had LYR embossed on it. Only link apart from the modern London Youth Rowers I can find is Lancs Yorks Railway. Or a boat name? On balance I am assuming it is a bell clanger. Another thought was part of a leg iron but can't find anything identical.
PaulG Posted September 22, 2016 Report Posted September 22, 2016 Having cleaned the ball I see it had LYR embossed on it. Only link apart from the modern London Youth Rowers I can find is Lancs Yorks Railway. Or a boat name? On balance I am assuming it is a bell clanger. Another thought was part of a leg iron but can't find anything identical. Sewer cleaning tool?
magnetman Posted September 22, 2016 Author Report Posted September 22, 2016 That's possible - it was quite close to the CSO (Combined Sewer Outlet) at wapping. Does look very like one of the items in your picture. Well spotted !! Only thing is there is no scale so not sure if the ball one is a 3 inch diameter ball or much bigger
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