51/687/2

Salter (Manufacturer)

This is the flywheel (round spit) of a bottle jack, a device for turning a spit. The bottle jack was hung either in a Dutch oven placed in front of the fire, or from a jack rack suspended above the fire. It is operated by clockwork and the meat is turned for several rotations in one direction and then back in the other. The mechanism is enclosed in a round brass case and is wound up by a key. This jack is complete with flywheel (round spit) and key. It was made by Salter of West Bromwich, and has the number 40 stamped on the base.

1 bottle jack with spit and key: metal; fair condition- dent in side; hook for suspending spit missing

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Miss Smith gives no indication of the origin of this bottle jack. It was made by Salter, and has the number 40 stamped on the base. It is of the standard design, and is complete with key and round spit. The disk which covers the keyhole is, however, missing. // The jack measures 16 inches in length, and is 11.5 inches in circumference. The spit is 6.5 inches in diameter and the total length, including spit, is 18 inches. // See also 51/ 97 M // 51/686/1-2 L', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded., 51/786/2 is the flywheel (round spit); it is unclear which of 51/786/1 and 51/786/3 is the bottle jack and which is the key.

West Bromwich

Jack, bottle, Flywheel

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)