A table thing - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

8th Aug 2018, 3:28 pm

Visiting Wycombe Museum a few days ago I cam across the thing pictured below, even the staff didn't know what it was. Any ideas, it was part of a dinner set display, whether this was correct or not I do not know.

Neutrino · 8th Aug 2018, 3:46 pm

I would call it an antique Soldering Iron rest but most people would describe it as a Knife Rest:
http://www.knife-rests.co.uk/knife_rest_history.php

We use something not dissimilar but made from pottery as a chop-stick rest.

David

Hartley118 · 8th Aug 2018, 3:48 pm

Not electrical I'm afraid, though I'm sure a little imagination could put it to use in some technical experiments.

It's a knife rest for use when the Master had finished carving the meat and the carving knife was covered with the juices, it was laid on the knife rest which kept it clear of the table and avoided soiling the tablecloth. Simple, but ingenious.

More information at http://www.knife-rests.co.uk/knife_rest_history.php .

Martin

Hartley118 · 8th Aug 2018, 3:50 pm

Disturbing that, in a world run by Google, we both identified the same website!

M

Hartley118 · 8th Aug 2018, 4:01 pm

The silver knife rest was probably incompatible with the rather alarming 'Electric Tablecloth' of a slightly later era. Table lamps were fitted with contacts in their bases in order to connect to a web of conductors incorporated in the tablecloth so that they could be placed more or less anywhere and would magically light up with no trailing flexes.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ecloth&f=false

Martin

8th Aug 2018, 4:35 pm

Thanks all, the tablecloth is described in one of the “Dangers of the (insert period here)” BBC programmes.

M0FYA Andy · 8th Aug 2018, 4:42 pm

Perhaps that tablecloth is the origin of the 'rule' about not resting your elbows on the table...………..

bluepilot · 8th Aug 2018, 5:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartley118

the rather alarming 'Electric Tablecloth'

It might have been a 6v table cloth. However given that they had mains voltage electric trains:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...=hornby&page=2
(see post 22) it was probably a mains voltage tablecloth.
I'll bet it looked nice with uranium glass ornaments on it.

8th Aug 2018, 3:28 pm	#1
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	A table thing Visiting Wycombe Museum a few days ago I cam across the thing pictured below, even the staff didn't know what it was. Any ideas, it was part of a dinner set display, whether this was correct or not I do not know. Attached Thumbnails

8th Aug 2018, 3:46 pm	#2
Neutrino Pentode Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maldon, Essex, UK. Posts: 182	Re: A table thing I would call it an antique Soldering Iron rest but most people would describe it as a Knife Rest: http://www.knife-rests.co.uk/knife_rest_history.php We use something not dissimilar but made from pottery as a chop-stick rest. David

8th Aug 2018, 3:48 pm	#3
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: A table thing Not electrical I'm afraid, though I'm sure a little imagination could put it to use in some technical experiments. It's a knife rest for use when the Master had finished carving the meat and the carving knife was covered with the juices, it was laid on the knife rest which kept it clear of the table and avoided soiling the tablecloth. Simple, but ingenious. More information at http://www.knife-rests.co.uk/knife_rest_history.php . Martin __________________ BVWS Member

8th Aug 2018, 3:50 pm	#4
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: A table thing Disturbing that, in a world run by Google, we both identified the same website! M __________________ BVWS Member

8th Aug 2018, 4:01 pm	#5
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: A table thing The silver knife rest was probably incompatible with the rather alarming 'Electric Tablecloth' of a slightly later era. Table lamps were fitted with contacts in their bases in order to connect to a web of conductors incorporated in the tablecloth so that they could be placed more or less anywhere and would magically light up with no trailing flexes. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...ecloth&f=false Martin __________________ BVWS Member

8th Aug 2018, 4:35 pm	#6
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: A table thing Thanks all, the tablecloth is described in one of the “Dangers of the (insert period here)” BBC programmes.

8th Aug 2018, 4:42 pm	#7
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: A table thing Perhaps that tablecloth is the origin of the 'rule' about not resting your elbows on the table...………..