TILE#9 October 27th- WOSSNAMES & THINGAMAJIGS

When Charles and Timmy arrived at George's workshop it was to find him outside with a long pole, opening the numerous shutters to admit light into the building.

"Need a hand?" asked Charles, volunteering Timmy with a gesture.

"No thanks Charles. there's a knack to it and I doubt your young friend could manage it without some previous experience."

"This is Timmy, I believe Jim the carter might have mentioned him to you?"

"No he spoke to the real owner, Mr. Thomas. He's the one that deals with all the paperwork, the invoices, bills of lading and so forth. He hardly ever sets foot in the workshop, says he doesn't want to put me off my stroke! Everybody thinks I'm in charge but I just do the making of the wossnames and thingamajigs!" he laughed.

"Not that I'd fancy taking over Mr. Thomas' side of things, too much like hard work is that. Now young Timmy what sort of experience do you have that we could put to useful work?"

"This is a small sample of my work" said Timmy producing his rolled up leather portfolio with its numerous illustrations. "I used to draw up ships and rigging, block and tackles for my father's business. Then I became an orphan...." his voice dwindled to nothing as the memory hit him afresh.

The two men regarded Timmy sympathetically. Nothing they could say or do would help him deal with such a loss but if anything would help, it was being put to work at something he enjoyed doing and might help take his mind away from the bad experience.

"Hey!" exclaimed George as he looked over the portfolio "What's this here?" He was regarding a curious figurine standing on a cylinder which was cut away to reveal strings that ran up through the figures legs to its arms and head. To one side was a closer detail of the cylinder consisting of a spring atop which was a circular disk, forming the top of the cylinder. The strings attached to the top of the spring and beneath it was another disk.

"The idea is" said Timmy "that when you press up on the bottom disk it distorts the spring which makes the mannequis strings loosen so that it appears to have motions such as waving its arms, nodding its head, even bending at the knees. I've only seen it work in my imagination because I've never had the time or the tools to actually build it. I like to design all sorts of mechanical playthings, it takes my mind off my...well, you know."

George grinned at him, saying "Just you come into my workshop Timmy, I think you and I are going to enjoy a prosperous future together because I have wealthy customers in foreign lands who will pay a fortune for such things to enliven their days."

Shaking George's hand, Charles said "Looks as if the two of you should get along fine. At days end I'll expect you back home Timmy, I think the day will just fly by and remember I've got that book ready should you want to take a look throught it."