What is it? Set 391

[Rob H.]

I need some help with two of them this week:

[Rich Grise]

2259: Sort of a physics toy. It's to demonstrate density or something; when you turn it over the two floating hourglasses switch positions.

Cheers! Rich

[Rich Grise]

2262: They were all used in space?

Thanks, Rich

[Rich Grise]

2260: Obviously a scrubber of some kind, so I suppose the question is probably, "What was it used on?" I guess I'd say either floor tile or calluses. ;-)

Cheers! Rich

[Stephen Quinn]

Rob

2257 a) Used to treat people with tunnel vision b) An early style of rose coloured glasses

2260 Back scrubber used in a Japanese bath house

[J Burns]

2259: In the US, alcohol content of liquor must be within 0.15% of what the label says. If one of the floats is set for the upper limit and the other for the lower limit, then if one sinks and one floats, the liquor passes the test. Well, that's my guess...

[Winston]

2258 Soap mould?

2259 'Viscosity' demonstrator?

2260 Scrubber pad?

2261 Coat button?

--Winston

[Esra Sdrawkcab]

2261

end button on wire item e.g. our 1970's vintage metal (painted blue) clothes horse there's a bent wire that holds the horse open, with another piece that is "flippable" to allow the horse to be stowed.

I'd post a picture but a) where? and b) SHMBO has the camera!

[Carl G.]

2257. Glasses to strengthen "lazy eyes" (amblyopia) by forcing the eye(s) to look through the center? 2258. Bearing or watch press? 2259. Physics toy/puzzle. Turn it over and the hourglasses switch positions, but only after the sand runs out of the hourglasses. The puzzle is to explain why they do not change positions immediately. Answer (Rot13): Gur fnaq va gur hccre unys gvcf gur ubhetynffrf, pnhfvat gurz gb fgnl va cynpr guebhtu sevpgvba jvgu gur ghor fvqrf. 2260. Scrubbing pad for use in the bath? 2261. Decorative "snap on" button?

Carl G.

[Northe]

2257: old shooter's glasses -- clear center part lets the shooter see the sights while the ground glass surround prevents distraction and amber color improves contrast.

[Scott Lurndal]

#2260 Could be a loufa holder for the shower, or maybe an ink blotter. #2261 Decorative furniture button

[Rob H.]

Good guess!

[Rob H.]

Yes, most people have guessed that it's a polisher, buffer, or scrubber but I haven't been able to find out exactly for what.

[Rob H.]

Sounds like a good possibility, I think it's a mold of some sort but can't get more specific.

Nope

[Rob H.]

Correct, this is the answer that I was looking for, although in the comments on the web site someone said it's a Newton's Gravity Sand Timer, I found some of these on the web and they are described as an hourglass that floats in water, with no mention of the puzzle. To me the most interesting part of the device is the puzzle of the delay in movement, seems odd that they don't mention it and only market the item as a decorative hourglass.

Rob

[Rich Grise]

Thanks! Does this mean I got one right this week? ;-D

(I mean, "Good guess" doesn't necessarily mean, "RIGHT!", like on "Family Feud," they're always saying "Good Answer!" but bzzzzt!) ;-)

Cheers! Rich

[Rob H.]

Yes, you nailed it, I was short on time but should have added to my answer that the tools were used on the Hubble Telescope.

[J Burns]

Why would a small mold have 3/4" holes in the top and bottom?

If I had a couple of pieces of 1/2" or 5/8" copper tubing with oval fittings, this looks like a dandy clamp for quick connects and disconnects. The springs would keep pressure on a gasket. The oval plate could be used when you wanted to stop the flow.

I haven't figured out where one might find copper tubing with oval fittings.

[Rich Grise]

Thanks very much for this! I think this will keep my ego inflated all week! ;-D

Cheers! Rich

[Rob H.]

I like the mold idea but someone else had suggested it's for connecting two rods and I like that idea too. There is some type of residue inside of it so that's one reason I like the mold theory, also, the plate could be placed at the bottom covering the hole, something was poured into the mold from the top, after it dried you could push a rod into the hole against the plate to drive it out. Hard to say exactly what they were making, I'm not saying this is correct, just a possible answer.

Seems like another good use for it, but I think it's will be difficult to prove either of these theories and get a definitive answer. The owner of it found it at a car boot sale, I didn't ask but I'm guessing it was in England.

Rob