Detecting Wales Rally 35 - The Wacky Races Rally!

[Chef Geoff]

No I don't I'm afraid, these things come up quite regularly from all over Britain so whatever they were used for or a bi-product from must of been relatively common. I'm surprised that none are recorded on the Finds database but this could be because the FLO's are running scared on this one
There are many theories a lot of which I'm sure will follow in no time but most, when scrutinised all fail for one reason or another.

[Mike]

did he have a clue what it was. i've looked on net found nothing like it? don't even no what to call it.!

such things turn up often on here so he said no one seems to know what they are / where / want to be , will ask him to put up picture of it

[shunggav]

its from the game jacks before they went plastic

[DEADLOCK]

very interesting thou chef, someone some where must no what it is surely?

[shunggav]

is its lead  might be off the mold from musket ball

[heather]

I found one of those years and years ago - still got it in the kitchen - definitely a jack ! lol

Had a lovely day and thank you to Wayne who brought the sarnies, they were lovely.

Found two buttons.   Would have loved the Field A to have been like field B!.   Couldnt cope with the height of the straw with my huge coil.

Shattered though, as walking on the soft earth - just not used to that !!

Thanks to all for organising it and look forward to the next one.

H

[rjm]

An enjoyable day out.

I had a few old pennies and a thimble. I collect thimbles so it was a nice consolation price. 

[The Doc]

Also found this its made of lead i have put it next to a 2 pence piece, also found on sat any body got any ideas? Asked Taff laff but he wasn't sure??

Like Chef said, I don't think there is a definitive answer on these.

 'Jacks' are a possibility and some think they are waste from casting musket balls. I was told a few years ago by someone very knowledgeable that they were the lead core used to add weight to a wooden ball used in a game like boules, but I've not seen any actual evidence of this either.

[Chef Geoff]

Oh that's right Peter didn't Neil put up a post about them being weights for the inside of balls?
I think the idea of them being casting sprues for musket balls has been basically written of as the mould would of needed to be far to complex and the Jacks game was for children, the idea being to pick up as many as you could before the ball lands. The children would have needed to have hands the size of shovels to pick up more than one or two of these

[Neil]

Look what you've started No Hammies!

My understanding from an old Searcher edition is that they were weighted pieces of lead that were encassed in small wooden balls - similar to Petanque or Boules. How this was made I have no idea.

Not sure if this is right, but I do know for certain that when I find one, I tend to find a few of them - got about ten to date with varying arms attached to them.

Its an item of mystery and caused almost as much banter on here as the infamous "Stair Rod Holder Debate of 2009"!

I write off the musket ball theory as to date I have never seen one with a musket ball attached and it would be a waste of lead to make. The other option I have heard of is as a blunderbus projectile - it would certainly do a fair bit of damage if it hit you or your steed at speed!

Nice find - love to know for sure what they are though.


Neil

[daz]

heres a similar one i found a while back.allways wondered what it was 

[DEADLOCK]

sorry neil lol but great explanation?

[Jassy]

a rally find, not sure what it is, brittania on one side, bust facing left and i can make out the word "shire" RUNNING DOWN RIGHT of the bust....any ideas?

[Jon1987]

Looks like it says "Warwickshire"

[Jon1987]

Here ya go jassy. Just to give you an idea

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WARWICKSHIRE-1791-HALFPENNY-TOKEN-NICE-RARE-COIN-/180706629500?pt=UK_Coins_Tokens_RL&hash=item2a12f4577c#ht_1076wt_922