The Incredible Story of the Artefact I found in this hole! Mudlarking the Thames with Nicola White

I've got a sandwich bag of pipe stems and bowls that were dug in my parents garden here in the States. (Illinois) Now I've got the bug to look up the names and designs of them. Thanks Nicola for peaking my interest.

The Thames is a giant library of history. I love that you research the items you find. And share them with us!

When I was a lad in London in the 1950s, I had a collection of marbles. The most common (and cheapest) were made of clay, the better ones of glass, the occasional ball bearing and those which had been extracted from mineral water bottles and were known as 'bottle washers'.

The pistol you found was imported to the US from Italy and somehow found its way to the UK. The marks on the L side of the slide shown in the thumbnail pic are that of EIG Imports in Miami, FL (Hialea) This semi-auto pistol was made by Tanfoglio in Italy around the mid 60's. This model was made in .22 cal. and .25 cal. Not by Walther, Not a PPK. EIG was in business from the late 1950's to about 1970 . As far as I know they never sold any firearms in the UK or anywhere else, only in the US. They imported inexpensive (aka 'saturday night specials') revolvers, semi-auto pistols, shotguns and some rifles to the US . The firearms imported were made in Germany, Italy and Spain. While it does bear a general semblance to the PPK, it is not. Always enjoy your videos. The bottle awesome! What was the purpose of the indentations in the glass? I have seen marble stopper bottles here in the US but not with the deep indents in the glass.

Nicola, your videos have now reached a new level. This was so well done! Love the stories behind the objects - my favorite part.

nicola is on a roll, saw the vid with dirty secrets of scotland. on a roll!

Thanks for the Arsenal field trip! One of my mentors was a Salvation Army Major from Kent who played pro football before being called to the ministry. He was a huge Arsenal fan. He passed on to glory at 82, but would have been thrilled to see those steps from the original Arsenal grounds. Thanks!

I really enjoy coming home from work on a Sunday night and watching your YouTube. It's something I really look forward to. I know you literally have thousands of people who follow you, but I almost feel like I have found a small corner that's particularly mine to take notice of and treasure. Thanks for all you do. It makes my mundane life lift for a minute while I watch you.

I think that brass item early in the video was half of a gun powder flask, either for a small pistol, or small pocket revolver. Those small .31 cal. revolvers were common, as were the little Belgian made muff pistols. I don't think that was a Walther PPK. It was definitely German, but it looked more like another one I've seen, a Saur und Sohn or something, if I remember. A Walther would have smooth, elegant grips with "Walther" and a banner on them, and an exposed hammer. What you had was hammerless, either with a shrouded internal hammer, or striker fired. I'll look in a bit and come back and post. You need Ian V. Hogg's Small Arms of the World and his book on handguns. There are used copies on eBay. Edit: It looked vaguely like a Sauer 38H from WW2, but I can't tell. Germany used lots of small 7.65mm pistols from all over....France, Italy, Czechoslovakia.....you name it! It wasn't a Walther though....i don't think. Mine is a 7.65mm Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic, serial number indicates 1911 production. In WW2 those were issued to the OSS, Churchill's bodyguards, and British Army motorcycle couriers, most were woman! Awesome video. Enjoy the week. 👍😃🇬🇧🇺🇸

Great finds Nic ! Ha I can't see a spanner without thinking of the great Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch Bicycle Repair Man.

What a beautiful voice Angelo has, and so good to see and hear him again. And I absolutely LOVED the history of this of the Cod bottle, and actually finding remnants of the stadium. Marvelous as always xx Teresa 🇦🇺❤

Thats so cool that you took the time to document those stadium seats. Before they get lost forever. I work in the first city in British Columbia and there's constant redevelopment going on. When ever I spot something cool and old that looks like it's days are numbered I take pictures.

What an altogether fascinating and different Thames excursion in today's video, Nicola! It was great seeing Angelo again. I especially liked "Down by the River". Hope to hear it commercially one day. Speaking of Angelo, I should think he has made you officially a Nan by now, no?? Thanks for taking us to the remains of Invicta Stadium. You truly bring history to life!

My Grandad was in the police force between the wars , the cape was rolled up really tight, he would spot really drunk men reeling all over the place, he would thump them with his rolled up cape to knock them out and drag them into someone' s front garden to let them sleep it off. This saved two things a record for the drunk and all the paperwork for my grandad , the rolled up cape would leave no marks. It were 'ard in them days.

Nicola you have mastered the art of clay pipe reveals. Your advantage is that you’re still excited about each pipe even after all of your many discoveries. Thanks for giving us another Thames adventure ✌️💙

Great to see Angelo! Helping out with refreshing the paint in your flat -- and coming along to find the remaining bits of a 100+ year old football stadium -- a great son!!!

So good to see you Nicola now you're back in your true element and the Thames has rewarded you royally. Loved the Arsenal story and your diligence in finding a scrap of the original terracing, also good to see Angelo again......sorry I'm a Manchester United fan. The gilt has worn off their status just now but we will return. Clay pipes seem to have an affinity to your presence ,two great finds Nicola .A really great return to the Thames ,thanks so much .Now my Sunday is complete. Take care lovely lady X

Loved all the history that goes with your finds, as an Arsenal fan from about 1955 It was great to see those steps that were the original stand seats. Thank you for sharing this. Stay safe and cool. 💕🇦🇺

Thanks Nicola this was a really groovy instalment - I have no interest in football whatsoever BUT to see the terraces in that back garden was amazing - to think of the fans that must have stood there and cheered - would be interesting to do some metal detecting in there! Plus a great little intact cod bottle and lots of other good finds!

We were just speaking to someone when we were travelling who was saying that the tides are very low this year. Can you imagine what else you’re going to find!!?? Hello from Toronto 🇨🇦