Lead for your civil war pencil?

[diggin tennessee]

Found this piece of lead at a civil war camp site and still trying to figure it out. I was told that the troops sometimes used the lead bullets to write letters and this might be one that was altered for that purpose. Ended up with a pistol ball, a 3 ringer and some other camp lead. Any ideas on this one? HH

 

[jewelerguy]

I wouldn't have a clue, but it's sure got a nice patina

 

[civil_war22]

Maybe a civil war fishing sinker from a bullet. I got one of em

 

[matt092079]

Hard to tell. I would imagine they got bored at points and probably just carved on bullets, whether they were meant for something or not. Good find nonetheless.

 

[surf]

I was told that the troops sometimes used the lead bullets to write letters and this might be one that was altered for that purpose.

Hey dt,

I think that is a major shaggy dog tale. I've dug graphite cores of old pencils on several occasions. I thunk you'd have an impossible time trying to write a letter with a hunk-o-lead...

Here's a bit of history on "Leadholders": History of Leadholders | Leadholder - The Drafting Pencil Museum

Pencils

 

[BosnMate]

Hey dt,

I think that is a major shaggy dog tale. I've dug graphite cores of old pencils on several occasions. I thunk you'd have an impossible time trying to write a letter with a hunk-o-lead...

Here's a bit of history on "Leadholders": History of Leadholders | Leadholder - The Drafting Pencil Museum

Pencils

Thank you, I learned something today.

 

[BosnMate]

Surf, Do you have any idea when they started putting erasers on pencils?

 

[surf]

Hey BosnMate,

It was an overcast day in March, 1858, in Philadelphia:

"On March 30, 1858, Hymen Lipman of Philadelphia, USA, received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil. It was later invalidated because it was determined to be simply a composite of two devices rather than an entirely new product." Eraser

"Hymen L. Lipman of Philadelphia, PA is credited with registering the first patent for a pencil with an attached eraser (pic below). In 1862, Lipman sold his patent for $100,000." Bookshops, Drive-ins and Jive: Mar 30, 2013

 

[BosnMate]

Wow, that goes back further than I would have ever thought.