Interesting Jeppe History - Folly & Famous Frames: A Victorian Spectacle Surprise!

I went off on a little adventure today - a spontaneous wander up to the Folly. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you’re not really looking for them.

Since Victorian times, municipal refuse was dumped along the sloping eastern edge of the “B” rugby field. By 1950, the area had been covered with grass. It was, however, too small for proper games use and soon earned the nickname “Collard’s Folly.”

Every now and then - especially after a heavy Highveld downpour - the earth shifts and Jeppe quietly reveals fragments of its Victorian past. And as they say, one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure.

Today, I found treasure.

Half-hidden in the soil were two circular glass discs, framed in metal, complete with tiny hinges. My first thought? Some kind of antique locket. But a closer look revealed that the glass was flat. Out came my trusty companion, Google Lens - and mystery solved.

They were lenses from a Victorian pair of spectacles, dating back to around the 1880s.

Two very famous people rocked this style of eye-wear.  Gandhi was one of them.

Here’s where the story becomes even more intriguing. Gandhi lived in Johannesburg for twelve formative years, and one of his homes stands just a stone’s throw from the school. The thought alone is enough to set the imagination racing. 

Snippet below is from The Heritage Portal

https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/gandhis-house-sale-sold-2009

Can you imagine if this very pair had once belonged to him? We’d all be rich, I tell you!

In fact, a pair of Gandhi’s glasses sold at East Bristol Auctions in August 2020 for a staggering $415,000. Not bad for something that helps you see clearly.

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/gandhis-glasses-bring-eye-popping-price/

Granted, my Folly find needs a little restoration - and perhaps a generous dose of imagination - but what a remarkable reminder that history lies just beneath our feet.

Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of rain… and a curious eye.

Sources:

Jeppe High School for Boys Magazine (1943-1962)

https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/gandhis-house-sale-sold-2009

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_glasses#/media/File:Lunettes_de_Gandhi-National_Gandhi_Museum_(2).jpg

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/gandhis-glasses-bring-eye-popping-price/

Found on the Folly - Interesting Jeppe History - Mysterious object, help me find out what it is?

Interesting object found on the Folly.  It is attracted by a magnet and very rusted.  Measures 10.5 cm x 6 cm.

I am stumped!  It reminds me of a winding key for an old clock.  In this case a gigantic clock ... or the little gadget used to open a sardine tin .......... a giant sized one!!

Any ideas?  Please help me identify the object?

Unidentified Object found on Collard's Folly

Found on the Folly - Shard - Plumbing not Penmanship

A little piece of Grahamstown right here at Jeppe Boys

At first I didn't want to blog about this shard that I found on Collard's Folly.  In the end I just want to share all that I've learned. I was once told that I am a wealth of useless information .... 

Here we go,

Well,.....this is the largest and heaviest shard that I have ever found.   Of course I had to pick it up and it is currently on my office windowsill.

This huge salt-glazed hunk of  pottery has a cursive name stamped into the clay "GRAHAMSTOWN 1/4".  This was an interesting find.

 Initially I thought that it was a piece of a salt glazed stoneware inkpot.

 The boys at Jeppe did write with pens dipped in ink for many years. A master stoneware inkpot was used by the teacher to fill up individual learner inkwell's that fit snugly into little round holes in wooden desks.

I showed the shard to Mrs Acton and she set me right.. It is in fact a piece of vintage sewage pipe made in Grahamstown.. (I did sanitise my hands after that conversation😁).  

They definitely don't make things like they used to.

I did some research and found that Grahamstown is well known for awesome clay deposits.

Grahamstown has the largest known deposits of good quality kaolin in South Africa. But the abundance of this useful white clay isn’t benefitting the community. If processing plants can be opened in Grahamstown, kaolin mining could help alleviate unemployment.

From 1990 most of the kaolin processing plants were closed down. At the moment Makana is mining 27% of South Africa’s kaolin and before 1990 it constituted 55%.

It is one of the top seven industrial minerals and has prospects for providing opportunities and  economic growth in Grahamstown.

Today kaolin mining is limited to mining in Grahamstown and quarrying which is restricted to only five mines.

These are AM Moss, East Cape Quarries, Strowan mining, Crousday and Makana Brick and Tile. Kaolin is extracted through open cast mining methods.

This type of mining is not labour intensive therefore an average of ten full time workers is sufficient to do the work.

Kaolin is a fine white clay produced by the decomposition of a group of rockforming minerals called feldspars.

It is used in the production of tiles, cosmetics, sanitary ware, tableware, paper, paint, rubber and  pharmaceutical products.

Discovered by accident

The salt glaze technique was discovered in about 1680 by a servant. There was an earthen vessel on the fire with brine in it to cure salt pork. While the servant was away the brine boiled over, the pot became red hot, and the sides were found to be glazed.

This piece of pottery could have been sold right here in Johannesburg.  Below is a very old advertisement I found.

So, not useless at all! I now know how salt glazing was invented.  Grahamstown has very good clay.  Most importantly, they didn't skimp on the plumbing when the school was built, they only used the good stuff!😁

Sources:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_glaze_pottery#:~:text=Their%20salt%20glaze%20technique%20was,were%20found%20to%20be%20glazed.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1069390381/large-antique-late-19th-century?click_key=5649ef6692494359d408bd634385d88c02fa4f9d%3A1069390381&click_sum=516ce9fc&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=salt+glazed+ink+pots&ref=sr_gallery-1-5

https://www.olx.co.za/

https://grocotts.ru.ac.za/2010/09/09/kaolin-mining-underexploited-in-grahamstown/#:~:text=Grahamstown%20has%20the%20largest%20known,mining%20could%20help%20alleviate%20unemployment.

Found on the Folly - Unidentified object - It's an Enigma! Code Breaking or Calculation?

On one of my recent "larks" I found a most interesting unidentified object.  At first glance it appeared to be a wheel of an antique toy.  

It has a diameter of 3 cm.  It has two halves that fit together.  I opened it up, it's hollow inside. 

on the other side

Upon closer inspection I noticed markings on the side.  The numbers 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. 

So the quest to identify the object began!  It's obviously not a toy! My next guess was an antique date stamp....but date stamp numbers have raised edges, this objects numbers are "sunken" (I'm Afrikaans, not sure what the term for "the opposite of the raised edges" of a stamp is )😊

I googled.... 

1.  Enigma Decoding Machine

My first hit ...  get this, the rotor of a German Enigma Macine used during World War II. I told Mr Jarvis that I thought it was definately this!😊😊 

It wasn't this!  Imagine if it was, forget "Spud", think of the movie we could make about Jeppe Boys! 

I started asking my colleagues:

2.  Round part of an old Cash Register

Rob Faltermeier suggested that it could be a part from an antique cash register.  

Close, but not quite!

3.  Tension knob of an antique Sewing Machine

Gillian Birkett thought that it could be a part from an antique sewing machine where you set the tension.

I looked at quite a few (antique and vintage), none of the tension knobs had the numbers on the edge of the wheel.

Almost, but not!

4.  Bobbin of an antique Sewing Machine

Laurie Stegmann suggested that it could be an antique bobbin.  

It has two halves they fit into each other luke a bobbin and a little whole where the thread fits through.

Sadly it wasn't this!

5.  Da Vinci Puzzle Box Toy

Bret Riskowitz said that he thinks it's part of a Da Vinci Puzzle Box toy.  The only problem .... it only has letters not number.

So... it wasn't this!!

I was getting frustrated, I had to know what this was .... I googled...

6.  Arithmometer (Mechanical Pin-Wheel Calculator)

I thought I found it at last!  NOT!!

Before giving up,

 I asked my family!!!!!

V I C T O R Y!!!!!

Jeppe Family 0     -   Immediate Family 1 

(Thanks to Ursh! - my Sister-in-Law)

Drum Roll      .....................................................................

It is in FACT!  Part of  an

ANTIQUE BARREL COMBINATION LOCK PADLOCK A G& J PRODUCT GEM NY 5 WHEEL DISK DIAL

Not sure how old this lock is, I'm just happy I found where the part was from!!

On to the Next!

Sources:  

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww2-german-cipher-enigma-machine-1931465123

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/brass-steel-parts-gears-dismantled-antique-518847859

https://sewingiscool.com/vintage-fleetwood-sewing-machine-history/

https://vatican.com/Sewing-Machine-Parts-Vintage-Sewing-Machine-Bobbin/

https://www.joom.com/en/products/5ccd6b5836b54d010112abee

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1935-antique-original-odhner-facit-1726929814

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-barrel-combination-lock-1985218490

Found on the Folly - Something Fishy

 I found these beautiful paste jars on Collard's Folly.  

Not sure why my cat liked these, maybe because they contained fish paste almost a hundred year's ago.

Left & Right:  Crosse & Blackwell's San-Chova fish paste, circa 1948 and 1927 (and we thought they only made tangy mayo!)

Far Right:  BlackBerry "BlackScary" Meintjes

Small Peck's Anchovette jar, grenade shaped.  Cira 1930-1940. 

Apparently paste bottles and jars are a very common find when bottle digging or mud larking.  They are my favourites, so many different shapes and sizes.

Vintage Advertising

Crosse & Blakwell  SANCHOVA (Anchovy Paste), 1948

An original Peck's Anchovette Paste Jar, inlcuding lid, spoon and original label

Sources:https://www.ebay.ie/sch/Collectables-/1/i.html?_nkw=crosse+blackwell&_pgn=3

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-pecks-anchovette-fish-paste-462916076

Military Finds of the Folly - It's not a Rusted Goon!

I think I found a Cannonball!

My husband says it's a rusted goon!  I don't think so!

Maybe I've been watching too many "mudlarking" shows on Youtube.  Maybe I just want it to be a cannonball ..... It might just be one!

This cannonball could be one that was fired at an Armistice Day Celebration at some time!  

    Found this pic on the Alumni Facebook page

  Left:  The rusted steel sphere I found on the Folly today

          

Cannons were also used during the wars in South Africa.                 

A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a large-caliber gun is also called a cannonball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_shot

The twelve-pound cannon is a cannon that fires twelve-pound projectiles from its barrel, as well as grapeshot, chain shot, shrapnel, and later shells and canister shot.  12-pounders were the largest caliber of long-barreled field pieces, and were used both at long range against fortifications and troop concentrations using round shot and against attacking infantry and cavalry using canister shot. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-pound_cannon

Click on link below to read more and see pictures of Lord Roberts and the Cannons.

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/boer-war-artillery-volunteers

Do you remember Mr Steve Hodge? (he is the only person I ever knew that owned a cannon).  He also brought it to Jeppe Boys and fired it on the property.

Fall-out of the Folly - Radioactive Finds

 

This ordinary looking green glass shard inspired this post.

                                       

This is a shard of "Uranium Glass", yes, Bomb-Uranium!  In the late 18th century a bright spark (excuse the pun) a German chemist added uranium to decorative glass for it's fluorescent effect. (I didn't wash this shard, I was afraid - It's radioactive!!

This is what an uranium glass object looks like in normal light

https://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/228046200/ART_DECO_URANIUM_GLASS_FLOWER_FROG_c1930s.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370720/Japan-nuclear-meltdown-The-Simpsons-episodes-banned-Germany-Switzerland-Austria.htm

Whitefriars glass company in London, England was one of the first to market the glowing glass, but other manufacturers were also quick to realise its sales potential and Uranium glass was produced across Europe and later North America.

Uranium glass was once made into tableware and household items, but fell out of widespread use when the availability of uranium to most industries was sharply curtailed during the Cold War in the 1940s to 1990s.  Objects are now considered antiques or retro-era collectibles, although there has been a minor revival in art glassware. Otherwise, modern uranium glass is now mainly limited to small objects like beads or marbles as scientific or decorative novelties.

https://en.wiedia.org/wiki/Uranium_glass

  If you shine a UV (black) light on uranium glass it glows. 

https://www.olx.co.za/item/uraniumvaseline-glass-wanted-iid-1063053605

Not only did medicine in Victorian times contain, opium and cocaine, the tableware contained Uranium.  What next!

The good news is that I have not seen any 2 headed pigeon's or 3 tailed lizard's ... Mind you there was that giant orange centipede in a boot!

 As I mentioned before, the ancient refuse dump that is the "Folly" was covered in the 1950's so before then it was used to discard various school items, which would've included chemicals from the science labs.  Nowadays we have a company that collects the used chemicals and disposes of it in an environmentally friendly way.  

So forget the carbon dating or dendrochronology grab the Geiger counter and let's see what other radioactive items I have found on the folly!

https://www.pngegg.com/es/png-zxwsq

Just joking, it's not that bad!

Poison

I have found "Poison" bottles, small amber bottles with ridges and 'poison, not to be taken' embossed on them

Batteries

Unfortunately I find many of these.  The custom of dumping batteries in the trash has not changed since 1950, we still throw batteries in the trash.

In addition to the fire danger, batteries can also contain toxic chemicals, including lithium, cadmium, sulfuric acid and lead. If disposed of improperly, these toxic chemicals can leach into the soil and contaminate the groundwater.

For these reasons, it is illegal to put batteries in the garbage or mix them in with the rest of your recycling. 

https://sanjoserecycles.org/national-battery-day-did-you-know-its-dangerous-to-throw-batteries-away/

Fuses of the Folly - I was Con"fused' !

 So, a few posts ago I said that the object I found was a bottle stopper.  Well I lied, I found out last night (after watching a bottle digging show) that it is a plug fuse from the 1940's.

                                                          125V glass plug fuse

It's a pity, it was until last night my only beautiful glass bottle stopper.

                                                       An old 'school' electrical fuse box

                                                        

This isn't a pic from the fuse box at my house, I'm sure my fuse box is almost as old as this one😉

Found on the Folly - Vintage Auburn Rubber Corp Toy Oldsmobile Car 1930's

Today Piet was digging another ditch to plant lighting poles next to Laurie's house.  He unearthed this cute little rubber vehicle.  Unfortunately it's a bit battered.  The interesting thing is that I think I found 2 of the wheels not so long ago.

                                       Oldsmobile toy car circa 1930

I found the toy online

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/143958440446?hash=item21849779fe:g:taYAAOSwu2dgHMoX

Look at the detail,  you can still see the profile of the little driver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_Rubber_Company

Here are the wheels I found on the 4th of May 2021, I will try and re-unite them

Success!

    I was able to re-unite the wheels with the Oldsmobile.  I have turned it into an artwork  "Oldsmobile"

Fossils of the Folly - I think I've found a fossilised bone!

 It's stone, about 4cm long 2 cm wide.

Below see the pic's

What do you think?

Forensic's of the Folly - "some bones of a cow" - I think!

I found these bones in the same ditch as the lung tonic bottle that dates to 1910, so I think that these bones also date the same.

It was something big, I think a cow.  Did check with Lydon, Sayuri and Richard (it's not human).  The one big bone is part of a femur.

Lydon is going to add them to the display in his classroom.  Sorry Josh!! Next time I will try and photograph them "In Situ" (now that I know what that means) - 'in the original place'. I will also catalogue them in little bags, not keep them all in a box.😊😊

    Bones found in ditch next to Laurie's house, circa 1910?

https://za.pinterest.com/asadsarwar2015/femur-bone-ox/

Found on the Folly - Late Victorian "Lung Tonic" bottle found - Apparently it contained some honey, chloroform and opium!

Last Friday they were doing maintenance work on the Folly (on the Bank next to Laurie's house), long ditch dug.  I immediately went to investigate.  I found 3 lovely bottles and a whole cow (alright not a whole cow, but many huge bones of what I think was a cow).

The coolest bottle I found had "Lung Tonic" embossed on one side and "Owbridge's" and "Hull" on the other sides.  Athly and I did some research.  Circa 1910.  

https://picclick.co.uk/Glass-Owbridges-Lung-tonic-medicine-bottle-C-1910s-203334600010.html

https://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/k-victorian/factories/owbridge/owbridge_court.htm

                                                        Vintage advertising for Lung Tonic

                                                             Lung Tonic Bottle circa 1910

                                                             Hull embossed on side

                                                             Owbridge's embossed on side

bottom view

Read this interesting article below about Lung Tonic and what it contained

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-daily-mail/20130226/282939562708468

Thanks again Harry for digging the ditch, I really had fun unearthing all the treasures