Can someone help me date this plum bob I found?

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

Attachments

  • Plumbob.jpg
    Plumbob.jpg
    123.6 KB · Views: 184

CincinnatiKid

Bronze Member
Nov 5, 2013
2,079
1,220
Cincinnati Ohio
Detector(s) used
XP Deus, Garrett ProPointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
mjmccallie, are you positive it's a plum bob?
What is object made of?
Peace ✌
 

Inspector

Silver Member
Sep 8, 2014
3,341
5,606
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate NY
Detector(s) used
Nox 600, w/6", Simplex+WHP, Tesoro Tejon, Tesoro Toltec, Pro-Find 35
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It may be the photo but it looks a little large for plum bob and also doesn't appear to have the point of a bob (but maybe flatten or broke). Is there a hole on the top for the string. How much does it weigh ? Bob or not, nice find
 

sandchip

Silver Member
Oct 29, 2010
4,351
6,871
Georgia
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2SE
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It is a plumb bob. I've got one like that with the two knurled rings somewhere that Daddy and I used in building, but how old it is, I don't know. The tips are steel to better take bumps without deforming, but it looks like it is missing or has rusted away. I guess it could've been used as an artillery bob, but the one I have that I was told is one is cast iron, shorter and fatter. They probably used whatever they had on hand in battle though.
 

Last edited:
OP
OP
M

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Brass
 

OP
OP
M

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I haven't gotten to weigh it yet. The point is there just hard to see. It is rusted on the point. I have found pics of plum bobs on internet just exactly like it but I have not seen a date, just antique.
 

joekidwell

Jr. Member
Nov 8, 2014
36
14
Greeneville TN
Detector(s) used
Garrett Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I was thinking a flag pole ornamemt but if it's really heavy it would be a plumb bob.

 

OP
OP
M

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Yeah that is what I thought when I first saw it and then I picked it up and I knew right away it was way to heavy for that.
 

sandchip

Silver Member
Oct 29, 2010
4,351
6,871
Georgia
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2SE
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I ought to know better than to trust my memory. The one second from left is the one Daddy and I used, and the third is the one that I thought was like yours, but only has one ring at top. The first is the one that I was told is an artillery plumb bob. I had hoped that there might be a patent date on one to help date it, but all I could find are the markings shown. Does yours have any markings? It has a beautiful patina, so I'd be reluctant to do a whole lot of cleaning.

bob.JPG
bob1.JPG
bob2.JPG
bob3.JPG
 

OP
OP
M

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
It does have what appears to be LVA but not positive. I hate to clean on it any.
 

OP
OP
M

mjmccallie

Tenderfoot
Feb 10, 2014
7
2
Rockwood, TN
Detector(s) used
At PRO
Garrett Ace 250
White's Spectrum XLT
Garrett Pro-pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
IDK, thats just the letters I think I see on it.
 

sandchip

Silver Member
Oct 29, 2010
4,351
6,871
Georgia
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2SE
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Sorry, man. I told you I was slow.:tongue3: I thought LVA was another one of them abbreviations folks throw around here.
 

bigfoot1

Silver Member
Nov 1, 2011
3,765
3,399
so.cal.mtns.
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
garrett,minelab,fisher,,,atp current weapon of choice
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
the design looks alot like globe..these are globe plum bobs late 1800s to 1940s
bob1.jpg ... bob2.jpg
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top