"TheScullster" wrote in message
. uk...

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Three poles in a triangle, one longer that the other two, used with a
block & tackle attached to the longer one?

Its on the tip of my tongue!

sheerlegs?

Apparently spelt shear legs.
Not quite sure why, when the legs are in compression!
See http://www.hss.com/g/69310/500kg-Shearlegs.html for details.

That's a tripod all the sheer legs are the same length.

One where they are different lengths is known as an accident in waiting as
some fule will attach the tackle to the longer leg and get the CG outside
the base.