[chasg]

Elimination pic: pumice stone.

[Far away]

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?39992-Are-these-wartime-training-models

[JohnWalker]

Could they be kiln spacers for bricks or tiles?   

[Paul]

Batpig droppings?

[sheppey_bottles]

I reckon they could be part of something larger, but God knows what, I wish I could think of an answer for you. In an old electrical fire, once the metal rots away, you may be left with bits of brass switching and funny shaped fire bricks that may look odd and look like no relation to original purpose. Fire bricks from a grate or range/Aga? Segments from a stone washboard, internal heat retention from an old gas iron? I am not saying it is any of these just trying to think out of the box.

[Sentinel S4]

Pumice stone is the only rock that floats. It is expelled during volcanic eruptions.

S4.

p.s. I love the avatar, TomCat. My sides are hurting from laughing too much.

[Merry]

The ones I used to get were almost polished in appearance.  They were very small, though, about an inch or so long, and didn't look as though they had been broken off a larger object because all the sides were smooth and even.  I think they'd have been too little to use for polishing anything other than a very fine blade.

[TomCat]

I remember the hedgehog shaped pumice stones, they had 2 grooves on the sides and one pointy and one rounded end. My Aunty also had a real lump of lava rock that I had to use instead of soap to wash my hands with. It used to float in water and confused me. Mind you this was 50 odd years ago.

Anyway re the prism shaped stone thingys ... I seem to recall my Uncle having a few similar things in his shed. Poss used  for sharpening saws or blades like a modern day oil stone. Just my thoughts.

[grandarog]

The only pumice stone shape I remember resembled a hedgehog for want of a better description.

[Paul]

Could they have been pumice stones?

[JohnWalker]

they are moulds  for Toblerone wrappers 

Actually, that's not such an improbablity.  I remember the local sweetshop used to dump it's point of sale materials at the back of the shop.  All the window display bars of chocolate etc had a solid stone like chocolate bar inside so that it didn't melt in the window display.

Before I realised what was inside I once gave a pretty girl I fancied at primary school one of the 'chocolate' bars I'd found.  She was really pleased until she opened it.  60 years on and she still ignores me in the street.  No big loss - she's not as pretty now 

[torpointblue]

they are moulds  for Toblerone wrappers 

[Merry]

The stones we used to see were not like the game stones seen via the link...they were a sort of speckled pale grey colour and completely smooth.

I may have to go back to the alley behind my old house and see what I can find.  Though explaining myself to the Neighbourhood Watch might prove tricky!

[grandarog]

Hi John Walker 
         Ref your link picture. They are the definitive shape "Five Stones " we had as kids although ours were made of wood. You can probably still buy them today.

[JohnWalker]

Have a look at these - not the same shape but some similarities with the ribs on the sides.

http://www.dighungate.com/content.asp?id=173

JW