On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 20:19:28 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article . com,
Bookworm wrote:
I know what you mean. We used to use them when I was a young Plumber **
years ago. We used to roll them back like a condom on the flush pipe
side fill them with putty and pull them forward over the pan inlet. We
then used to use wire to hold them in place by wrapping wire round each
side and then twisting with pliers.

That's the one - but no putty in my case, just wire.

Bloody crude I know but in those days that was the way things were.

Have not seen one for years.

Oh dear. ;-)

Some random thoughts...

If the rubber is (sometimes?) filled with putty and (almost?) always
wired, then the rubber thingy itself is probably not providing much of
a seal. The putty (plumber's mate, I guess) is perhaps the key
ingredient?

Maybe with a little bit of ingenuity something else could be used? The
rubber bit from a sink plunger, suitably modified? Very large
heatshrink tubing? Mould one yourself? Or maybe just some silicone
sealant to hold the pipe in place and forget the rubber wotsit?

Or, maybe a trip to a reclamation yard is in order.

How about eBay? I sold a 60 year old cistern, brackets and downpipe -
including the rubber thingy - about a year ago. Mind you, I got £100
so it would be an expensive way to obtain just the piece of rubber!
Tim Hardisty.
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