Shopkeeper stumped by odd object (From This Is Lancashire)

Shopkeeper stumped by odd object

7:10am Friday 22nd January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

A RADCLIFFE shopkeeper is appealing for help to identify a mystery object found in a garage.

Jannette Howarth is used to selling all kinds of quirky and unusual items in her second-hand book shop, Needful Things, in Ainsworth Road.

But when her marketing manager, Brenden Murphy, handed her the object, she had no idea what it could be.

Mrs Howarth, aged 43, said: “Brenden was clearing out his garage in Butterworth Street, Radcliffe, when he came across it. He thinks it has been in the family for years, but he has no idea what it is. We’re absolutely stumped.”

Mrs Howarth put the item in the shop window last week and hopes her customers might be able to identify it.

People have already suggested it could be engineering equipment or be used for morse code.

The strange object has a crank handle at the side and could be magnetic underneath.

It is not known if it was used alone or was part of something else, as it has holes for screws at the bottom.

Mrs Howarth, who lives above the shop, said: “I have absolutely no idea what it could be. I’m really stuck. I sell all kinds of weird and wonderful things in the shop, but I have never seen anything like this before. It really is a mystery.”

Anyone who can identify the object is asked to visit the shop or contact Mrs Howarth by calling 07902 992632.

• Print
• Email
• Share