Tool Tuesday: Plumb Bob

[johan_steele]

The simple plumb bob may be one of the oldest tools known to man. Anytime a builder needed a straight vertical line a plumb bob fit the need. A stone, bit of lead, bronze or brass attached to a leather or twine thong fit the bill quite nicely. When it hangs and stops moving it creates a perfect vertical line that can be used to determine if walls or frames are straight. When combined with a board or other tools and a bit of the maths they can find a horizontal line as well. I first used tools in a real sense when with the Legion in North Africa.

While building roads the men laying out our work used plumb bobs and other tools they said had been in use since the Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza. I have to admit I've not seen them and have to take them at their word. As both were officers... well not all officers are very trust worthy. The one Sous Lieutenant was quite put out when he could not find his fancy plumb bob.

I remember seeing them use two different plumb bobs; a simple lead model and a very ornate one. I must admit the small ornate one from Paris found its way into my pocket. It was certainly not my fault that the officer could not keep track of his tools.

When in America a string dispenser fell into my pack. It does a splendid job of holding my various plumbs and pairs nicely with that plumb from Paris. Most importantly my Mrs. Mina believes it pretty. I have to admit that I might agree with her.

For some odd reason I have acquired more Plumb Bobs over the years. I am particularly fond of the small brass ones that fit so nicely in the pocket. They are a simple tool and an effective one. Perhaps that is why I am so fond of them. I believe I have ten or perhaps twelve now. I have two in my tool chest and another eight or ten in another place that I occasionally pull out and simply look at.

 

[JOHN42768]

Simple yet important means to establish starting points

 

[johan_steele]

An American made "Acorn" style plumb bob.

 

[DixieRifles]

Interesting look at the plumb bobs of yesteryear. I worked 2 summers during college on a survey crew with the State Highway Department. We mostly drove stakes in the gravel next to the highway for re-paving process but I did operate the level one summer.