Bits and Bobs quiz
AT THEIR March meeting, members of the Charnwood Antique & Collectors’ Club were entertained by Bob Neill and his wife Del, when they travelled from Aston-on-Trent to present their display.
Well, it wasn’t a display as such, but a competition. Bob & Dell had visited the club before, but that was over five years before, when he first presented his “Bits and Bobs”.
It was at that meeting Bob informed members that he had inherited a dozen boxes of unusual and old items left over from his grandfather’s shop when his grandfather passed away.
Now, the collection had risen to 24 boxes, each with 20 items in each box. This evening he brought along a box of relatively newly acquired items.
Members were split into three teams. Each team was given a list of 20 numbers against which the answers were to be written down. Then each team was given a numbered article that they had to identify and then write the answer down against the appropriate number of the sheet.
As the articles were passed around, Del and Bob provided gentle clues to any team who appeared to be having a problem. However, even then, some of the items were very difficult.
At the end of the competition, Bob and Dell provided the answers plus information appertaining to each one. The winning team, with 14 out of 20, consisted of, Gina, David, Annie, Margaret, Margot and Doreen.
The items consisted of a wooden pump used by vets, for forcing pills or pellets down an animal’s throat. a musket ball maker; a Victorian meat bone holder to assist in carving; a brass knapsack bag fastener; an item for shaping ‘frills’ on costumes; a lawnmower blade sharpener; a set of iron tongues for use on hat brims; a note pitcher, used generally in brass bands and certain types of orchestras; A glass “2d lick” ice-cream holder; a stair carpet clip; a ring for a pigs nose; and one for a bull; a tin opener; a bowls measure; a candle snuffer; a decorators grain comb; a glass razor blade sharpener and a ravioli crimper.
The last two items being the most difficult to identify. They were a violin damper for the strings and a pair of chrome plated (what one could only say were like shoulder epaulettes with a slot in), used by jockeys to assist them in putting on their boots!!
The chairman thanked Bob and Del for coming along again and providing all with a very amusing, interesting and enlightening evening.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 4th April when members are requested to bring along an item(s) and to show and discuss with other members.
RFT.