A friend helps a local archaeology group & was contacted to take this away from a garden owned by 2 old ladies, it had been there for some time. Originally it was found on common land near to High Wycombe, Bucks.
It was taken to a local museum (not sure the museum was overly pleased) the bomb squad were called.... they examined it then declared it not to be "explosive" the museum asked that it be taken away.
The friend then brought it to me (not sure how i upset him!) & i have been looking to find out what it is.
I have attached photos.
It is about 30 tall,
Steel not cast.
There is a strong ring top & bottom,
The top is marked "top",
The top ring is attached to a metal disc (like a big ring pull) this is soldered in place & looks like it would pull out if pulled hard enough, perhaps activating the contents.
The bottom ring is attached differently welded very securely,
There is a white powder filling about 1/3 of the cylinder this has a loose metal disc above it.
There is a metal tube (visible in photo) that runs from the ring at the top to the powder at the bottom.
there are the remains of a brass/copper wire running from the cap/ring on top into the cylinder.
I have found this web site http://www.bbrclub.org/free_balloon_operations_in_world.htm which describes a "free balloon" & the ring top & bottom make me think it might be associated with something similar. another idea is a buoy for submarine detection.
Any ideas?
It was taken to a local museum (not sure the museum was overly pleased) the bomb squad were called.... they examined it then declared it not to be "explosive" the museum asked that it be taken away.
The friend then brought it to me (not sure how i upset him!) & i have been looking to find out what it is.
I have attached photos.
It is about 30 tall,
Steel not cast.
There is a strong ring top & bottom,
The top is marked "top",
The top ring is attached to a metal disc (like a big ring pull) this is soldered in place & looks like it would pull out if pulled hard enough, perhaps activating the contents.
The bottom ring is attached differently welded very securely,
There is a white powder filling about 1/3 of the cylinder this has a loose metal disc above it.
There is a metal tube (visible in photo) that runs from the ring at the top to the powder at the bottom.
there are the remains of a brass/copper wire running from the cap/ring on top into the cylinder.
I have found this web site http://www.bbrclub.org/free_balloon_operations_in_world.htm which describes a "free balloon" & the ring top & bottom make me think it might be associated with something similar. another idea is a buoy for submarine detection.
Any ideas?
