Whats this Green Thing ??

[Mel]

I have been given several of these - beleived to be part of a batch of items off a yacht --- They seem to be cast steel and have a green baize cloth on the underside -- any ideas ?

 

[Sans Bateau]

They are a since obsolete way of holding charts flat on a chart table. The little spike would hold two charts together.

 

[Roberto]

they are very similar to "spline weights": they were used in pre-CAD days to keep wooden splines still while drawing curved lines in yacht design, but these would not have the small spike in the end, and probably not be found on a yacht anyway -.

 

[chrisc]

Good God !suprised anyone else remembers,those were the days.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
Spline or batten weights, known to marine draughtsmen as"ducks"....usually made of lead or cast iron ... Most ducks have a wire hook or finger which is placed on top of the batten;... a piece of felt on the bottom protects the drawing from being marked by the metal.....

[/ QUOTE ]

From "Yacht Designing and Planning" by Howard Chappelle

 

[Mirelle]

They are very dangerous.

I will be happy to take them off your hands...

 

[snowleopard]

Get in the queue. I've tried for years to get hold of a set of splines and weights!

The spike on the end is to engage in a groove on the top of the spline. Without it you'd have to put some weights each side to form a curve so couldn't run a pencil continuously along the edge.

 

[ironmaiden]

these are VERY VERY DANGEROUS you must not under any circumstances have any contact with them .......other then to pop them in to a jiffy bag and forward them to my containment estabishment....... PM me for the top secret location where they will be cared for in an environment which will not put others at risk....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[richardabeattie]

You are being misled by devious old yotties. It is clearly an iron mouse for a BMC computer