What is this thing?

5562 readers

14 users here now

Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

[Solved] What is this metal contraption (UK)? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This thing has been in my garden since I moved here and it's always just been pushed up against the side of the fence. I want rid of it now but I haven't got a clue what I'm removing. Its about 1 metre away from a telegraph pole. Nothing on the other side of the fence.

When the rod at the top reaches the fence it just goes straight down into the ground. I can rotate it around that point but no matter how much I pull/rotate it, it wont come out.

Another image after rotating it here:

https://i.ibb.co/4pfwV10/Screenshot-20230701-064813-Gallery.jpg

Edit: Solved. It's a turnbuckle previously used to hold up the telegraph pole.

top 5 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

A few reverse searches popped up this similar looking doohickey on a Russian utility pole. I think this is part of a tension support.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

1m from the pole seems a bit close. Now, I'm not a lineman so I cannot tell you much but my guess from looking at loads of telegraph poles throughout my existence is that it may be from an older pole that was placed a bit further away from it.

I assume it's one of those things they've forgotten about when they changed poles because it was buried in your garden.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Looks like a turnbuckle to me for tensioning the cable it’s attached to.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can't pull it out of the ground as it should be attached to the pole you mentioned, it's to stop the thing falling over! No idea who or how you'd report that too... openreach maybe???

If you want to nerd out > https://www.powertelcom.com/guy-wire-function/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Make sure you have a plan of the boundaries of the property as they may well ask questions about the fence and whose land it is on.