Sky Hook and other similar practical Jokes

[Beckenham1]

A sky hook is a "hook" used to lift an object, in difficult locations without readily-apparent support. It has been in use in factories and shipyards as a practical joke since the start of the industrial revolution (and probably even before that) to send new apprentices to the Stores on a futile search for such an imaginary object. Other items were "a Long Wait", "Tartan Paint", and a new one on me "Black Whitewash". New employees would be sent for variations of same till they caught the drift of what was going on. It's difficult to reference the origins of a thing like this. Any help, appreciated.
Regards

[paddyscar]

Hi Beckenham1:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?sea ... hmode=term defines skyhook as an "imaginary device to hold things up," 1915, originally aviators' jargon, from sky + hook. Applied from 1935 to actual device for lifting things into the air.

The other terms you mention can also be checked out by entering the term(s) in the search box and choosing the preferred search type from the drop-down box next to it.

Depending on how much credence you give wikipedia, there is an article on a multitude of other such terms and their supposed origin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipe_hunt

Frances

[AndrewP]

Other such items are the spare bubble for the spirit level, a bucket of steam or a tin of buff sparks.

All the best,

AndrewP

[momat]

Some "Invisible thread" . A" Bottle of Scotch Mist ".

[Tracey]

It has been in use in factories and shipyards as a practical joke since the start of the industrial revolution (and probably even before that) to send new apprentices to the Stores on a futile search for such an imaginary object.

......and the Hairdresing industry in the 80's and 90's. Kids are far to bright now to fall for it

Glass hammer was another. Also glueing money to the perspex *bricks* in the pavement and watching passers by trying to pick it up. The place i worked c1979 that used to do this had smoke glass windows so the passer by couldnt see everyone watching .

[AnneM]

How about 'a long stand' or a 'tin of elbow grease'?

Anne

[Moray_Lass]

When I was at school the History teacher sent one of my class to the Maths Department for a Round Set Square

[Currie]

Here’s the “half-round square” joke written about by Charles Dickens in 1856.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=jXQ ... 22&f=false

And it looks like a “spare bubble” could sometimes be legit.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Vm9 ... CDIQ6AEwAQ

Alan

[AndrewP]

And it looks like a “spare bubble” could sometimes be legit.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Vm9 ... CDIQ6AEwAQ

I take that to mean the glass tube containing the spirit and the bubble.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Beckenham1]

Good reading!

The Snipe hunt article and discussion page on Wikipedia was a good find.

Over the weekend I can only add the Left Handed screwdriver to the list.

I'm surprised that the humble Sky Hookn can only go back to the RFC; I would have thought that it would have been earlier. Since practical jokes have been ever present there must be a hieroglyph in some pyramid of one surely...

Best regards