The Lemon Fool

I have decided to try a different format this time. A comment made on the previous Mystery Items thread (by the great, and greatly missed, Gengulphus) was that one could inadvertently see a spoiler for one item while looking to see if another item had been identified. I will, therefore, give each item its own thread. I will not post these all at once, rather, I will post one each day for ten days.

If you know what something is, I request that you spoiler the answer or (preferably) post a message with a cryptic clue that will make sense once the answer is revealed. I think that there is more enjoyment where a number of guesses have to be made, and the answers and clues that I leave lead to the object (however obscure it may be) being identified.

Here is item number 1:


(My image)


Good luck!


Julian F. G. W.

By gum, it's getting hot in here!

jfgw wrote:I have decided to try a different format this time. A comment made on the previous Mystery Items thread (by the great, and greatly missed, Gengulphus) was that one could inadvertently see a spoiler for one item while looking to see if another item had been identified. I will, therefore, give each item its own thread. I will not post these all at once, rather, I will post one each day for ten days.

If you know what something is, I request that you spoiler the answer or (preferably) post a message with a cryptic clue that will make sense once the answer is revealed. I think that there is more enjoyment where a number of guesses have to be made, and the answers and clues that I leave lead to the object (however obscure it may be) being identified.

Here is item number 1:


(My image)


Good luck!


Julian F. G. W.

Blimey I should be banned from this one, I see them regular, like....

monabri wrote:By gum, it's getting hot in here!

Mike4 wrote:Blimey I should be banned from this one, I see them regular, like....

I don't think I need to provide any more clues just yet.


Julian F. G. W.

They look like something that would screw into a central heating radiator for the valve tails to screw into. Can't see why they would be needed though unless for a valve tail with a different thread...

Imbiber wrote:They look like something that would screw into a central heating radiator for the valve tails to screw into.

That is where they go. They are not for thread conversion, however. Radiators and valve tails are both BSP and nearly always 1/2" — the tails are usually screwed directly into the radiator. A clue to what these items are for is that they come in different lengths (Toolstation list a range of sizes up to 100mm).


Julian F. G. W.

Yes, I see it now. Fitted a few radiators when I did my apprenticeship as a pipe fitter/ welder in the Late 60's early 70's. Moved on to other things later. Tails were different then, a special tool was needed, sort of a crude splined affair. Recognised these from helping my son change his radiators a couple of years ago .

Union valves are still available, https://www.stevensonplumbing.co.uk/10mm-radiator-valve.html. I have found that the new ones need a hexagonal key to fit the tail, although I have come across older ones with two splines on the inside. Union valves have the advantage that the radiator can be removed even if there is very little movement in the pipes. These now often come with O-ring seals rather than relying on a metal—metal seal (with a bit of boss white or similar). I question the longevity of the O-rings, however.

I have only ever seen thermostatic valves of the compression fitting type. This enables the valve to be fitted horizontally or vertically. This was important when thermostatic valves were directional. They are, as far as I know, all now bidirectional so can be fitted upright in either the flow or the return.


Julian F. G. W.

Well that's water under the bridge..or rather, through the radiator....time for number 2?

I have used these when replacing an old-size radiator with a new, slightly shorter, metric one.

As you have found, number 2 is underway.


Julian F. G. W.

jfgw wrote:I have used these when replacing an old-size radiator with a new, slightly shorter, metric one.

Ah yes. I remember back in the day, when metric radiators were all an exact multiple of 25.4mm long....