Can someone help me date this plum bob I found?

mjmccallie · Dec 2, 2014

I found this in a civil war area. It was actually on the edge of a dug out fighting position.

CincinnatiKid · Dec 2, 2014

mjmccallie, are you positive it's a plum bob?
What is object made of?
Peace ✌

Inspector · Dec 2, 2014

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 · Dec 2, 2014

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.

mjmccallie · Dec 3, 2014

Brass

mjmccallie · Dec 3, 2014

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 · Dec 3, 2014

I was thinking a flag pole ornamemt but if it's really heavy it would be a plumb bob.

mjmccallie · Dec 3, 2014

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 · Dec 3, 2014

mjmccallie said:
Brass

I realize that it's brass. The steel tip is threaded into the tip to protect against deforming from impact.

sandchip · Dec 4, 2014

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.