Mystery item help ?

[jefword]

Hi,
During a clear out of my fathers garage I have found these very old wooden cones. Can anyone identify what they are for. My best guess is that they are to swage lead pipe before soldering. They could be kids spinning tops but I don't think so. They probably belonged to my grandad who was a bit of a jack of all trades, (blacksmith, sign writer etc)

The largest cone is about 3.5" long and 2" diameter at the top.

Anyone got any ideas. Thanks in advance.

[Big Al.]

They are dollies for dressing out the ends of the old lead plumbing pipes.

Do I win a prize?

[Smiler.]

Buttplugs?

[jefword]

I did think not to post this in "The Lounge" because of the replies I would have received, that's why I put it in Homes, Gardens and DIY.

However my theory on how to get only sensible answers has just gone out of the window.

Very funny anyway.

[RichB]

Big Al. said:

They are dollies for dressing out the ends of the old lead plumbing pipes. Do I win a prize?

Well as the O/P told you I don't think so

jefword said:

My best guess is that they are to swage lead pipe before soldering.

[sparkythecat]

Big Al. said:

They are dollies for dressing out the ends of the old lead plumbing pipes.

Do I win a prize?

He's right, that's exactly what they are. Like many old lead working tools, they are made from lignum vitae, which is quite interesting stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignum_vitae

[jefword]

Thanks for the wikipedia link and the confirmation that they are what I thought they were. Very interesting reading.

[Flintstone]

sparkythecat said:

... lignum vitae...

I sent one of those in with a job application.

[Simpo Two]

Flintstone said:

I sent one of those in with a job application.

Your presentation must have been very wooden!

[DJFish]

I thought it might be one of these for a moment, I used one extensively when I was in the navy:

[S1_RS]

DJFish said:

I thought it might be one of these for a moment, I used one extensively when I was in the navy:

I think it's already been confirmed they are NOT buttplugs!

[jefword]

DJFish said:

I thought it might be one of these for a moment, I used one extensively when I was in the navy:

Out of interest, what is it and what did you use it for in the navy?

I believe that my grandad whom them may have belonged to, was in the navy during the first world war.

[Ferg]

jefword said:

Out of interest, what is it and what did you use it for in the navy?

I believe that my grandad whom them may have belonged to, was in the navy during the first world war.

That's a marlinspike for rope working, isn't it?

[dickymint]

Ferg said:

jefword said:

Out of interest, what is it and what did you use it for in the navy?

I believe that my grandad whom them may have belonged to, was in the navy during the first world war.

That's a marlinspike for rope working, isn't it?

Also known as a Fid.

[DJFish]

Yup, it's a fid.
Used for splicing mooring ropes.

[anonymous-user]

S1_RS said:

DJFish said:

I thought it might be one of these for a moment, I used one extensively when I was in the navy:

I think it's already been confirmed they are NOT buttplugs!