What's this thingamajig called?

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jpsartre
jpsartre Posts: 4,085 Forumite
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in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
I've got this handle kind of thing on my wall next to my fireplace. The cover is missing and I would like to look for a replacement but I have no idea what the thing is called. Any help?

http://i67.tinypic.com/2nroqic.jpg2nroqic.jpg
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  • TheCyclingProgrammer
    TheCyclingProgrammer Posts: 3,702 Forumite
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    What does it do?
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,550 Forumite
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    It looks like the sort of thing that you use to summon servants from below stairs.

    A bell pull.
  • Biggles
    Biggles Posts: 8,209 Forumite
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    edited 18 October 2016 at 4:23PM
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    You must be in an old Victorian house; we had a four-story one some years ago.

    You turn the handle, which pulls on a wire within the walls, which runs down to the basement - at one time the servants' quarters - and pulls on a bell on a spring.

    When we lived there, there was still a board in the basement with a row of bells on it. When one of the bells rang, they were supposed to see which one it was and scamper up to that room to see what they wanted.

    Happy days!
  • jpsartre
    jpsartre Posts: 4,085 Forumite
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    TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »
    What does it do?

    Nothing as far as I can tell.
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,471 Forumite
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    There's a photo of a complete one lower down the page in this article.


    OP, you don't live a house like that, do you ?


    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3330604/Servants-bells-hidden-former-home-Westonbirt-Arboretum-designer.html
  • jpsartre
    jpsartre Posts: 4,085 Forumite
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    Biggles wrote: »
    You must be in an old Victorian house; we had a four-story one some years ago.

    You turn the handle, which pulls on a wire within the walls, which runs down to the basement - at one time the servants' quarters - and pulls on a bell on a spring.

    When we lived there, there was still a board in the basement with a row of bells on it. When one of the bells rang, they were supposed to see which one it was and scamper up to that room to see what they wanted.

    Happy days!

    Indeed, it looks like it's a servants bell. "Rotary servants bell" pulls up some similar images on Google although they seem to be rarer than I had hoped for. If anyone knows of a more common name do let me know.
  • Ganga
    Ganga Posts: 4,157 Forumite
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    As it is next to the fireplace is it not some sort of control for the flue?
    does the handle turn round and round or only move so far in both directions.
    ITS NOT EASY TO GET EVERYTHING WRONG ,I HAVE TO WORK HARD TO DO IT!
  • Le_Kirk
    Le_Kirk Posts: 22,312 Forumite
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    I have a little bell that I ring ............. and then one of the servants comes and turns the handle for me!
  • Ant555
    Ant555 Posts: 1,569 Forumite
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    edited 18 October 2016 at 4:54PM
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    Ganga wrote: »
    As it is next to the fireplace is it not some sort of control for the flue?
    does the handle turn round and round or only move so far in both directions.

    Thats what I was thinking, something to control the air flow to an open fire


    Look at the third or fourth picture down this page - more modern but very similar
    http://inspectapedia.com/heat/Ductwork_Zone_Dampers.php

    It probably does nothing practical now but this might help you locate something as a replacement item

    Hope this helps
  • Jackieboy
    Jackieboy Posts: 1,010 Forumite
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    Ant555 wrote: »
    Thats what I was thinking, something to control the air flow to an open fire


    Look at the third or fourth picture down this page - more modern but very similar
    http://inspectapedia.com/heat/Ductwork_Zone_Dampers.php

    It probably does nothing practical now but this might help you locate something as a replacement item

    Hope this helps

    But that's an American site talking about furnaces, not a simple UK fireplace. I've had several homes with working firplaces and seen nothing like that.
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