Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 July 27

= July 27 =

Best name for this type of retractable mechanism?
In the description page for the image at left, the XXX-shaped mechanism that enables the mirror to be extended or pushed back is called a "pantograph extension arm". And maybe that's the answer to my question. However, "pantograph" may refer to a number of different, though related, mechanisms. So I'm just wondering if there is a more specific name for this particular one, where all of the diamond shapes are the same size and no arms extend beyond the diamonds, allowing it to extend and compactly retract in this way. Anyone know if there is a better name? --76.69.47.228 (talk) 03:14, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Scissor mechanism or accordion-type device? Bus stop (talk) 03:56, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Our article Scissors mechanism already contains this image. Cullen328  Let's discuss it  04:08, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * So it does, but the article makes it clear that it only has to contain a single X. Still, that might be the best answer. --76.69.47.228 (talk) 05:10, 27 July 2018 (UTC)


 * I've always seen those things called pantographs, or sometimes incorrectly cantilevers. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 08:01, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I (speaking English like a native) would call it a pantograph. DuncanHill (talk) 08:03, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I'm fluent in English too, and would call it a "thingy". --Dweller (talk) Become old fashioned! 10:08, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * That is such a modern term - I still remember thing-a-ma-jig :-) MarnetteD&#124;Talk 18:17, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Wiktionary:Thesaurus:thingy has several more such terms. Bus stop (talk) 20:06, 27 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Another name - specific to this form with multiple sections - is "lazy tongs". They can be used for the reach (you sometimes see literal sets of tongs, for things like moving hot coals in a fireplace) but they're also useful for their mechanical advantage. Some larger pop rivet guns use them, as the long action with a handle attached to one end allows a powerful torque on the last two levers, for little manual force. Andy Dingley (talk) 10:17, 27 July 2018 (UTC)


 * "Pantographic extension arm". Matt Deres (talk) 12:41, 27 July 2018 (UTC)

Thanks to everyone who responded. --76.69.47.228 (talk) 09:10, 29 July 2018 (UTC)

Newspaper adverts
Back in the day, when newspaper or magazine advets in my part of the world gave landline phone numbers, many such adverts contained phrase "Ask Foo" (e.g. Ask John, etc) after the phone number (as such numbers were shared). Were such phrases also used in the US and UK in that era? 212.180.235.46 (talk) 14:33, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Re "in my part of the world", the IP geolocates to Poland. Cześć! -- ToE 22:31, 28 July 2018 (UTC)
 * It would depend on the situation, but the construction would more likely be "Ask for foo" in the US and Canada (not sure about the UK; can't comment). Matt Deres (talk) 17:30, 27 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Pretty much the same in the UK, although there was often an extension number to ask for. The only example that Google could find for me was in The New Yorker in 1995; "Please call and ask for Lawrence Daitch at: 1-212-752-7789 ext. 69".  Alansplodge (talk) 18:03, 27 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Classified ads sometimes charged per word (sometimes after a flat 20 or so), in which case a profit-minded-but-poor businessperson might have to shoot for the bare minimum and hope for the best. But if you're seeing any sort of graphic, Foo probably paid for an entire box, and could've crammed as many words in there as her choice of font allowed. InedibleHulk (talk) 10:20, 29 July 2018 (UTC)
 * If you're buying from the suspiciously-generic Community Press in today's money, a "for" could be worth 39 whole American cents. InedibleHulk (talk) 10:28, 29 July 2018 (UTC)


 * No reference but we've used "Ask for Maggie" (and others). We do not have a Maggie at the company. It's for the switchboard operator to know that the caller is responding to a specific ad in a specific newspaper. Ditto for advertising in the Yellow Pages - "Ask for Frank". It helps us gauge the effectiveness of our advertising strategy. 196.213.35.147 (talk) 08:10, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * That's the coolest industry secret I've ever learned online. Needless to say, I'm "very satisfied" with your response and expressly opt into receiving a virtual brochure sent to my Talk Page detailing any similar free revelations your mysterious operation offers, if your mysterious operation indeed offers such a service. No pressure if not, thanks for the tip! InedibleHulk (talk) 09:08, 30 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Which reminds me that when my employer was recruiting using flyers, she gave her mobile number and name "Karen".  It wasn't Karen (actually it was Caroline) but that indicated to her the source of the introduction.   Companies do this all the time - e.g. the response address begins "Room number ---", or responders are asked to quote "Department 'X'" or reference "Y".   Much information is coded in this way, notably driver numbers and insurance policy numbers.   The numbers aren't simply issued in sequence (like company registration numbers for example). 86.131.233.223 (talk) 09:08, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I said I wanted it at my Talk Page, but with delivery that quick, I can't complain! If your number has nothing to do with the number I was talking to, disregard this message. But if you are an automated branch of the mysterious operation, "tell me more". InedibleHulk (talk) 09:25, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * OK, I trust you. Probably just got edit conflicted, as human editors do, then you quickly indented under me instead of 196. A pleasure hearing from you, in any case. Floor's all yours, 212! InedibleHulk (talk) 09:58, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Both sides can play that game. We've had a long-standing practice of using a fake middle initial on magazine subscriptions. If advertising turns up with that initial, we know who they bought their prospects list from. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 11:54, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * People who own shares can often tell which company's register has been consulted when a mailshot arrives by comparing the address details with those on the notices they receive from the various registrars.  Before the legalisation of off-course cash betting customers of the football pools were required to send the stake money for one week's coupon with the following week's entry.   Companies continued to send coupons even when asked to stop.   Some clients therefore deliberately withheld payment.   After a few reminders this led to them being added to a "bad payers" blacklist, with the desired result that their names were removed from the mailing list. With the introduction of the National Lottery the football pools are now virtually extinct. 86.131.233.223 (talk) 18:22, 30 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Related story: In Sydney pubs you can ask the bartender for "Angela", to indicate that you are being harassed. Mitch Ames (talk) 03:29, 31 July 2018 (UTC)