Vintage Plumb Bobs – Vintage Surveying

Throughout history, “Plumb Bobs” were one of the most basic, but vital tools in the tool boxes of Land Surveyors, Engineers & Builders. Used by Land Surveyors since the earliest days of the profession, the advent of digital & optical equipment pushed the iconic “Plumb Bob” into relative disuse in recent decades. The “Plumb Bob” is a tool that is literally “as old as the pyramids”, with its use by the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Romans & medieval builders in mega building & engineering projects like the pyramids, aqueducts & the world’s great cathedrals, being well documented (in more modern history, builders kept early skyscrapers vertical by hanging very heavy “Plumb Bobs” on a long wire inside elevator shafts). ……. The “Plumb Bob” is a simple but efficient tool (in its simplest form, it’s just a heavy weight at the end of a string) that historically performed a critical function (quick, easy & cheap determination of a perfect vertical reference line) for land surveyors, engineers, masons, builders, shipwrights, carpenters, mill wrights, wall paper hangers & plumbers (among others). “Plumb Bobs” generally had a pointed tip at the bottom & in the last few hundred years were most commonly made from brass, bronze, lead, iron & steel (some very early examples were made from ivory, bone, wood & stone).

…….. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the vintage “Plumb Bobs” shown below are all from my personal collection (occasional pieces of related ephemera may be added to provide context & when appropriate, I will try to ensure they are suitably accredited). ……. I’ve only recently started populating this web site with vintage surveying items from my personal collection & the “Plumb Bobs” listed below are just a start (there’s lots more to be added regularly). ………. Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments related to any of my website’s content (If I have missed pertinent information, or gotten an identification or description incorrect, I always welcome thoughtful revision suggestions).

……… Just “left-click” on any image to expand it for better viewing & then “left-click” on the arrows at the right or left side of the expanded image to scroll (in order) down or up (respectively) through the list of images:

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**Plumb Bobs** – A Small Sampling from my Collection

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*Plumb Bob* – **VERY RAR**E cast lead & gunmetal – 20 ozs. – 4.12” long – Unknown Maker **c.18th Century** (attribution by vintage tools expert Andrew Stephens) -1a

*Plumb Bob* – **VERY RARE** cast lead & gunmetal – 20 ozs. – 4.12” long – Unknown Maker **c.18th Century** (attribution by vintage tools expert Andrew Stephens) -1b

*Plumb Bob* – **VERY RARE** cast lead & gunmetal – 20 ozs. – 4.12” long – Unknown Maker **c.18th Century** (attribution by vintage tools expert Andrew Stephens) -1c

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*”Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob’*‘ – Internal Reel – **1899** PATENT DRAWING -1a

*”Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob”* – Internal Reel – **SCARCE** (**1905** Wm. Ainsworth & Sons Sales Bulletin #BX – open source copy) -1nb

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1bb

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (Thompson Balance Co.) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1cc

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob’*‘ (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1dd

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1ee

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1ff

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1gg

”**Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob**” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal* reel – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1ii

”*Martin’s Automatic Plumb Bob*” (**Thompson Balance Co.**) #1011 (12 oz. nominal) **SCARCE c.1898-c.1905** – *internal reel* – lacquered ‘red’ brass – 1kk

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*Ridgely Plumb Bob* – internal reel – 8.3 oz. – **Patented Jan. 12, 1909** – **VERY SCARCE** – complete with *original* Crank Handle (which is typically missing) – nickel plated -1bb

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**1879** *James W. Queen & Co. catalog listing for* **VERY EARLY ”STANLEY ADJUSTABLE PLUMB BOB”**, which Stanley produced from **1874 to 1937** -1gg (open source copy)

**1917** *Durham, Carrigan & Hayden catalog listing for* **”STANLEY ADJUSTABLE PLUMB BOBS’**‘, which Stanley produced from **1874 to 1937** (open source copy)

*Stanley Rule & Level Co.* **(c.1920-1937)** – #5 “***Adjustable Plumb Bob***” (cast iron plumb bob with reel) – **12oz nominal, 11.7oz actual)** -1aa

*Stanley Rule & Level Co.* **(c.1920-1937)** – #5 “***Adjustable Plumb Bob***” (cast iron plumb bob with reel) – **12oz nominal, 11.7oz actual)** -1cc

*Stanley Rule & Level Co.* **(c.1920-1937)** – #5 “***Adjustable Plumb Bob***” (cast iron plumb bob with reel) – **12oz nominal, 11.7oz actual)** -1dd

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