Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2012 June 19

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June 19

Any idea what this is from?

My friend is trying to identify this object: [[1]] It definitely looks like a latching mechanism, but for what? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.194.140.240 (talk) 10:59, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

It is hard to judge size because a reference to something of known size is missing from the image. Is it about four inches in length? My guess would be something akin to a window. Bus stop (talk) 11:07, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Unfortunately I don't know how big it is. I'm at work now, so I won't be able to ask for more information until later. I was guessing it was about that size too. When I searched for window latches from around that time, everything seemed much more ornate, but I suppose that they are the more interesting ones and most likely to be saved/collected. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 11:42, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

It looks broken to the left and to the right. I would guess that breakage occurred in removal. Therefore I would hazard a guess that it was attached not to something wooden but rather to something metal. That a number appears on an area that I would expect to be visible at all times when in use suggests to me that this item's function was not consumer-oriented but rather of a more utilitarian nature. An industrial setting or an agricultural setting seems a possibility. Bus stop (talk) 13:06, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

It is a tractor part I think. Jreft (talk) 20:42, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

You think that 1874 is a year? The flat-head screw that holds the handle looks too modern for that. The whole construction is strange. It looks heavy duty, with a large backplate and multiple points of attachment to whatever it was latching, but the handle looks like it can swing back and forth and it can't not going to stay in place.

Assuming that it's indeed a 19th century mechanism, it reminds me of trains for some reason.--Itinerant1 (talk) 10:59, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Looks like an upside-down sash lock to me. (That's why the rough look; that side isn't meant to be seen.) --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 14:05, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Can the up-loader of the image provide us with additional views? Can we see the other side for instance? Bus stop (talk) 14:15, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

I'll see if he can get me a few more pictures and a scale reference. I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow, and this will be archived before I get back. Hopefully he can get me pictures before I have to leave. 209.131.76.183 (talk) 16:23, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

My expert says he "would guess the part has to do with farm equipment, the two "D" shaped portals left and right appear to be for some sort of rail insert accomodations.Tme cam or circuluar portion appears to be changable, and the screw head is for a heavy application. Best guess is to regulate opening or positioning of a portion of a gate or barrier." μηδείς (talk) 16:27, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

I think the device may allow for more than one method of securing closure. The D shaped portals and the more centrally located square portals may allow for additional methods of securing closure. I also think this device is too complicated and expensive to produce to be used in ordinary applications such as shutting windows. I think that its use is industrial or agricultural or possibly military. I think its construction is a tad on the robust side. If it is as utilitarian as I think it may be, then both sides may be visible when in use. The tolerances between working parts are fairly close, suggesting to me that this assembly integrated solely with other metallic parts. I agree with the comment above that the construction reminds one of trains. Bus stop (talk) 17:44, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Sure looks that it could be either large or small doesn't it. But, taking a close look at the small straight brass handle threaded into the curved locking mechanism, I see large scars relative to its patina and, in addition, there are fairly large round pits in the brown background tiles near this handle. Taken together, these indicate that this item is small. If I'm correct, its too small to be of much use other than a simple locking mechanism, and thus its perhaps a sash lock as jpgordon said above. --Modocc (talk) 03:00, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

BTTF - Delorian question

Resolved

In Back to the Future (first film), Marty is fleeing Peabody's farm just after getting to 1955 and he's rambling to himself that it's all just a dream when he slams on the brakes to see Lyon Estates (where he lives with his parents in the future) not even built yet. The camera (minute 32) cuts to both of his feet slamming on two pedals to brake the car -- what's up with that? I know my dad's old Buick Regal had a parking brake near the floor, but these two pedals appear similar in size and both seem too accessible to the driver's feet for it to be a safe place to put the parking brake. DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 14:16, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Clutch & brake? Is it a manual or automatic transmission car? --Tagishsimon (talk) 14:27, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

(ec):I haven't viewed the scene, but if the car has a manual transmission, then Marty would need to step on the brake (right foot) to slow/stop the car, and the clutch (left foot) to prevent the car from stalling once it reached a stop. --some jerk on the Internet (talk) 14:30, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Following up: this is not the scene in question, but in this clip from earlier in the film, the car definitely has a manual transmission. --some jerk on the Internet (talk) 14:34, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Thanks -- I have no idea what a clutch is or how to drive a manual, but I'll look it up right now. Thanx! DRosenbach ^{(Talk | Contribs)} 16:14, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Good heavens! I don't think I've ever driven an automatic, except in the US. --ColinFine (talk) 20:09, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Have you noticed too, that on very old cars they have a handle just below the radiator grill for winding up the elastic band ;-)--Aspro (talk) 20:21, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

I haven't reviewed the scene in question, but this blog has a photograph of the interior of the Delorean DMC-12 about a third of the way down the page. The three pedals are just visible: from left to right, the clutch, the brakes, and the accelerator. (The accelerator is a slightly smaller, narrower pedal, and the clutch pedal is clipped slightly by the edge of the frame.) The parking/hand brake handle is also visible in the bottom left corner of the frame. For reference, the DMC-12 was sold with a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox, or a three-speed automatic transmission. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 15:06, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

In Europe, we find manuals much more fun to drive and with the parking brake (hand brake) mounted on-top the central transmission tunnel it allows one to do handbrake turns in the snow and ice. Mind you, one has to pass a proper driving test over here. A major requirement is to show that one can coordinate the use of both hands and feet (as with clutch and brake in afore said film) and lastly revers car (female drivers must do this too) into parking space – if you can find one. --Aspro (talk) 17:09, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Is this sort of remark, about female drivers, permitted here? Hayttom (talk) 19:24, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

If you can suspend PC for a few minutes, give this a listen:[2] ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:55, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

If Aspro wants us all to think that he's an idiot, he is perfectly free to make jokes about black people liking watermelon, or women being bad drivers. Just as we are free to think him an idiot for doing so. We'll just be over here with our lower insurance premiums, given by companies with no financial incentive to set the rates using anything other than hard facts. I just hope that the daily bombardment of belittling comments about their abilities doesn't put too many girls off learning to drive, and being confident doing so. 86.164.77.7 (talk) 12:23, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Usually when some character in a Hollywood movie uses both feet to perform a sudden stop, I always thought they were pressing both feet on the one extra-wide brake pedal that is present in cars with automatic transmission. However, you are right that in that particular movie, the car is a manual transmission; and Marty demonstrates his ability to drive manual in both the De Lorean and his own car. Astronaut (talk) 17:19, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Marty or Michael Fox's Body double – could not see his face as he floored the peddles!--Aspro (talk) 19:56, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

To those for whom the manual transmission is about as familiar as a covered wagon, you step on both clutch and brake, otherwise the car will stall once it gets too low in whatever gear it's in. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:15, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

If you're performing an emergency stop you usually don't care if the engine stalls. I used to find when something jumped out in front of me and I stood on the brake, I would forget about the clutch until the car started buffeting (then quickly stamp on it). Stamping on both pedals right from the off seems like something you'd only do if the sudden stop was premeditated (for example, if you're making a movie). These days, I drive an automatic, and I imagine it will last me long enough that my next car will be electric. I suppose the clutch will soon go the way of the starter handle and the choke... FiggyBee (talk) 14:09, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Just using the brake means one is also having to dissipate the energy in the rotating mass of the engine and pistons. It also puts a strain on the bearings. It amounts to poor driving practice and your driving instructor should have explained all this to you.--Aspro (talk) 22:44, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

If the alternative is crashing into something, then it's not such a poor driving practice to stomp on the brake. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:26, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Dunno about all that. I learned to press brake and clutch together when stopping suddenly and it's instinctive now. Here in the UK, we tend to think of the automatic gearbox as an aid for those who can't drive properly. Alansplodge (talk) 00:45, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

Well said and verily. A automobile can be brought to a controlled stop in a shorter distance than just hitting the brake for all its worth. Hence, European diving tests for where cars here don't crawl around at zombie speed of 25 MPH. Also, by keeping control of the car during an emergence stop, one can also employ 'pumping', which is nigh on impossible, if one is standing on the brake -frozen in terror- of having one's fender customised into a new shape. --Aspro (talk) 17:58, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

I have the opposite problem. I'm so used to my clutch that on those rare occasions that I'm driving an automatic (usually a rental), I still try to step on the clutch as well as the brake - and let me tell you, that car stops real sudden. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:56, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

Don't tell me: Its one of those things with anti-lock, power assisted brakes. What happens when the drive belt brakes or the engine dies (when the power steering goes heavy as well) in the outer lane with a 22 wheeler coming down the mountain behind, blowing its air-horn and flashing its lights- both have happened to me. And being in the US at the time everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road.--Aspro (talk) 18:10, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

nit delhi

when the nist delhi campus be shifted form warangal to delhi — Preceding unsigned comment added by Divyanshus (talk • contribs) 16:11, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a crystal ball. Instead try contacting: [3] - Happy studying. --Aspro (talk) 17:46, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

IB answers

Where can I find the answers to the most recent (May 2012) IB HL Math and Chemistry tests? --146.7.96.200 (talk) 21:42, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

inb4 "what does IB stand for", it's obviously the International Baccalaureate, although I'm not sure about HL. It might mean "high level", but that is not a commonly accepted IB term. --Viennese Waltz 21:49, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

But "higher level" is, so I think we can assume that is what is meant here. OP, I assuming you've tried the obvious places? - Jarry1250 ^{[Deliberation needed]} 21:56, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

The IB website would be the only legal possibility. If they're not there, you cannot obtain them legally, and we can't refer you to illegal sources. Dominus Vobisdu (talk) 00:01, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

That's not true. The IB organisation may well have licensed third parties to print and publish (and sell) past papers, or the IB organisation may choose to make such material available in paper form or via a separate website. The IB organisation may choose to make its past papers non-confidential and freely distributable by participants. The copyright and privacy laws of some countries may permit the papers to be reproduced and distributed. In many countries, reproduction within certian limits for the purpose of study or criticism or news reporting may well be "fair use" or "fair dealing". The possibilities of legal ways to obtain the papers are almost endless. It is irresponsible for you, Dominus Vobisdu, to offer advice about what is legal or not when you are not the OP's lawyer and you have not even got your facts straight. --PalaceGuard008 (Talk) 10:50, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

Note that both of these responses don't appear to have read the question properly. The OP specifically asked for 'answers'. They didn't specify the questions had to be provided, it's easily possible they already have the questions. When it comes to 'answers', the fact that you can't generally copyright facts means answers for things like MCQs or fill in the blanks or other things could probably be provided, particularly if the person publishing the answers came up with them independently. Similarly for long answers and essays, whether or not someone can publish any sample answers the IB organisation has provided (if they actually provide such things), there's likely nothing to stop someone independently coming up with their own sample answers and publishing them. Nil Einne (talk) 18:26, 21 June 2012 (UTC)

Cherry Blossom Queen Crown

In past years, a Cherry Blossom Queen was crowned during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. The crown that was used contained real diamonds and I believe it was valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I don't think the crown a queen anymore. So, what happened to the crown? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.3.2.129 (talk) 22:01, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

See 1957 Gift of Mikimoto Crown. It has 1,585 pearls set in a frame of 14K gold, no mention of diamonds, and was appraised at $300,000 in 2005. It is too heavy for the Cherry Blossom Queen to wear for more than a few minutes while pictures are taken. It is then removed and she gets a smaller crown to keep. DriveByWire (talk) 22:53, 19 June 2012 (UTC)

...and much cheaper, too, I bet. StuRat (talk) 01:17, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

[4] - 2012 Queen. Rmhermen (talk) 01:51, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

They spin a wheel of fortune to pick the queen? Not even Vanna White could save this from meaninglessness. Clarityfiend (talk) 02:16, 20 June 2012 (UTC)

Any British readers will be thinking of this ;-) Alansplodge (talk) 12:45, 20 June 2012 (UTC)