What is it? Set 382

[Rich Grise]

Don't forget the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Kama Sutra, and The Tao of Pooh. ;-)

Cheers! Rich

[DoN. Nichols]

2203) This looks like a tool (calculator) for telling when a given heavenly body will cross the horizon, and in what direction. At a guess, it is for indicating sunrise and sunset times and locations, though it might be for something else perhaps specific stars used for calculating latitude and longitude wit the aid of a sextant.

It also appears to include some form of telescope -- perhaps with eye-protecting filters if for the Sun. It might also just display constellations to help find a specific star for navigation purposes.

2204) Perhaps a tool for setting railroad ties at a proper right angle to the rails -- or at least for measuring how far off the ties are before driving the railroad spikes to lock them to the rails.

Or -- given the V bottoms, it might be for measuring the bend in a round rod. This it would be easier to use than with the other, because I am having difficulty imagining how it fits with sufficient accuracy to the ties.

2205) A tool for nibbling a specific curvature in the end of a round wooden rod. Perhaps for making a shape for a good splice when grafting one kind of limb onto another tree or shrub.

Or -- it might be for cutting the rounded end on a broomstick. I'm not sure whether there is sufficient clearance for that.

2206) The front frame of a mantle clock modified to serve to display hay -- or to act as a window into a storage place for such hay, perhaps for feeding an indoor donkey? 2207) For separating something (perhaps grain again) according to size. Each screen is finer than the one above it, so you wind up with layers of different fineness. 2208) Perhaps to catch embers below the grate in a coal-fired stove?

Now to see what others have suggested.

Enjoy, DoN.

[J Burns]

2204 It's for aligning agricultural drain tiles. The system came to America in 1838. In 1882, more acres in Ohio were tiled than in all previous years. If the tiles weren't well aligned, dirt would fill them.

[Steve]

This week's set can be seen here:

2203 may be some sort of planisphere, or star finder.

Steve R.

[Rob H.]

Correct, though I heard it was called a truth window, maybe different regions call it by different names.

Five of the six were answered correctly this week, the answers along with an update from a few months ago can be seen here: