Interesting projectile

fearn · 30th September 2010, 05:53 PM

Hi All,

I wasn't thinking exactly of a plumb bob, but of something that you'd want to embed in something else. Thanks to M. Eley, it might be something like thispatent whale hoist. These are obviously not the same thing, but if you string a line in the fin, it's going to drop point first, and the weight means that it's going to hit something reasonably hard. So, I guess the question is, can you use it to retrieve something off the bottom?

I do like all those whaling tools. It's a good thing they don't show up here, or we'd all get pretty confused.

Best,

F

fernando · 30th September 2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

... I do like all those whaling tools. It's a good thing they don't show up here, or we'd all get pretty confused...

Yes ... as we might as well keep sensitive enough to avoid widening the scope of the topic by entering too deep into certain parts of the whale scenario... if you people know what i mean

.

Matchlock · 30th September 2010, 06:35 PM

Hi David,

My only guess: not more that one hundred years old.

Best,
Michael

fernando · 30th September 2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi David,

My only guess: not more that one hundred years old.

Best,
Michael

Ah Michl, you came first, while i was writing my longer post!

katana · 30th September 2010, 07:17 PM

Hi Michael and 'Nando,
the patina does suggest that it is not as ancient as the seller suggests....Victorian ? or perhaps stored in 'ideal conditions'.

How about the pointer from a simple (but large) inclinometer ? or mounted on a ship's beam, to freely pivot (nail through the hole) to measure the pitch or roll of a ship ?? possibly, but extremely unlikely.

The 'tail' section had a diamond cross section, I think if this was to be fixed statically I would expect one or both sides to be flat. For the same reason I think a harpoon head is also unlikely, a flat profile would allow more accurate fitting to a shaft. (+ the fact, that large harpoons were nearly all marked with the ship, or owners initials, or the maker etc)

Some sort of decorative counter weight or pendulum ??

Regards David

broadaxe · 30th September 2010, 10:28 PM

I have two things on mind with this peculiar item:
1. A pointer of a wall mounted instrument, like cart scales.
2. Railing or concrete pillar top...

1700's catapult

? duhhh...

fearn · 30th September 2010, 11:41 PM

Perhaps the gnomon (pointer) on some sort of ornate sundial? One thing that bothers me about this theory is that hole in the fin. What is it there for? and it's quite short, which makes me twitchy too.

I didn't post that earlier, because I didn't want to clutter the whaling implement story.

The thing I don't like about the whale sticker interpretation is that toggle harpoons are old. If it's supposed to take the strain of raising a whale carcass, you'd expect either toggle barbs or something similar that would stick in the body.

Best,

F

P.S.: I know what it is! Stonehenge and other standing stone circles are just really old silicon-based astronomical computers. Maybe this is just the cursor for Stonehenge's graphic interface.

fernando · 30th September 2010, 06:38 PM

Hi again David,
I don't think that the relation between section lengths and volumes complies with a heavy duty capture device; too short for penetration, assuming the ball is a stopper.
Besides, it has no profile to be thrown from a gun, as Gene already advanced.
I am still skeptical about the pending weight version; i don't know why, just don't see it like that.
Why not a static implement? the hole to fix it somewhere?
But tell me, do you still think its age dates back to XVII century? that old indeed?

30th September 2010, 05:53 PM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi All, I wasn't thinking exactly of a plumb bob, but of something that you'd want to embed in something else. Thanks to M. Eley, it might be something like thispatent whale hoist. These are obviously not the same thing, but if you string a line in the fin, it's going to drop point first, and the weight means that it's going to hit something reasonably hard. So, I guess the question is, can you use it to retrieve something off the bottom? I do like all those whaling tools. It's a good thing they don't show up here, or we'd all get pretty confused. Best, F

30th September 2010, 06:35 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi David, My only guess: not more that one hundred years old. Best, Michael

30th September 2010, 07:17 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Michael and 'Nando, the patina does suggest that it is not as ancient as the seller suggests....Victorian ? or perhaps stored in 'ideal conditions'. How about the pointer from a simple (but large) inclinometer ? or mounted on a ship's beam, to freely pivot (nail through the hole) to measure the pitch or roll of a ship ?? possibly, but extremely unlikely. The 'tail' section had a diamond cross section, I think if this was to be fixed statically I would expect one or both sides to be flat. For the same reason I think a harpoon head is also unlikely, a flat profile would allow more accurate fitting to a shaft. (+ the fact, that large harpoons were nearly all marked with the ship, or owners initials, or the maker etc) Some sort of decorative counter weight or pendulum ?? Regards David

30th September 2010, 10:28 PM	#6
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	I have two things on mind with this peculiar item: 1. A pointer of a wall mounted instrument, like cart scales. 2. Railing or concrete pillar top... 1700's catapult ? duhhh...

30th September 2010, 11:41 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Perhaps the gnomon (pointer) on some sort of ornate sundial? One thing that bothers me about this theory is that hole in the fin. What is it there for? and it's quite short, which makes me twitchy too. I didn't post that earlier, because I didn't want to clutter the whaling implement story. The thing I don't like about the whale sticker interpretation is that toggle harpoons are old. If it's supposed to take the strain of raising a whale carcass, you'd expect either toggle barbs or something similar that would stick in the body. Best, F P.S.: I know what it is! Stonehenge and other standing stone circles are just really old silicon-based astronomical computers. Maybe this is just the cursor for Stonehenge's graphic interface.

30th September 2010, 06:38 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi again David, I don't think that the relation between section lengths and volumes complies with a heavy duty capture device; too short for penetration, assuming the ball is a stopper. Besides, it has no profile to be thrown from a gun, as Gene already advanced. I am still skeptical about the pending weight version; i don't know why, just don't see it like that. Why not a static implement? the hole to fix it somewhere? But tell me, do you still think its age dates back to XVII century? that old indeed?