Lead bars...

[subgeo]

I am trying to figure out what some lead bars were used for. The bars are aproximately 9 inches long, 3/4 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick. They have markings on them that read: SC CORNELL N YORK. Near the end of the bar is a 1/4 inch hole next to the K in York. This item was found at an 1800's era shipwreck dive site. What would these be used for and what do the markings mean?

 

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[OutBack Duo]

Lead was sometimes used as ballast to keep the ship steady in the water.

 

[junkdigger]

Maybe the bars are from the divers' weight belts. Didn't Lloyd Bridges wear a weight belt when he dove on "Sea Hunt"?

 

[backitup83]

What about melting down to make a round ball of conical bullet for a black powder rifle or pistol?
A lead bar that small could only have so many uses.
Mike

 

[Gribnitz]

They used lead like that as 'issued' lead during the civil war. Soldiers would snip off enough to make a bullet and toss it when there wasn't enough left to make anymore.

 

[PhotoTJ]

Sounds like a sounding weight. Tied to a heavy cord with knots tied at 6' increments. 6' = 1 fathom.

 

[oakalley2]

subgeo, post a pic of them. it could be zink used on boats
oakalley2

 

[DJ_Quinn]

Sounds like a sounding weight. Tied to a heavy cord with knots tied at 6' increments. 6' = 1 fathom.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

hi, the hole and size suggests for moulding bullets. The hole was for tying to your belt

Too small for ballast or sounding weights I believe.

Tropical Tramp

 

[Rogerm069]

Just a thought, But not seeing a pic plus not knowing the area I was thinking they could be window weights, they would tie a cord on one end and place it in the window casing and hook the other end to the window with pulleys, so when you lifted the window it made it lighter and easy to lift.

 

[Oroblanco]

Just another idea as to what these might be, it is possible they could be bars of lead used for printing presses - many presses in the old days mixed their own metal to cast as type, usually a mixture of lead, antimony and sometimes tin. I don't know the size of the lead bars they used for making "linotype" but it is possible this is what you have found.
Oroblanco