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Plumb line used to establish true vertical lines. Used by Mr Ben Hingston, a London stonemason, retired in 1958.
Craftsmen used plumb lines and bobs to establish true vertical lines. This plumb line consists of a long string with a lead bob on one end and a piece of metal on the other. The metal piece would be wedged into the stone, with the string establishing the vertical line as it comes to rest. It is one of a collection of stonemasonry tools used by Mr Ben Hingston, a London stonemason who stopped working in the practical side of the trade in 1958.

1 plumb bob: lead, string, metal

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘A plumb line is essential in stone masonry to ensure that a course of stones are laid in the correct position. This consists of a heavy lead bob with approximately 15 feet of string attached to it and to a piece of metal, 5” long. The metal piece was wedged and the bob allowed to hang.’, MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘All the tools in this collection were used by Mr Hingston, a 45 year old (approx [in] 1958) mason. Many of them he obtained from other craftsmen and many he bought new. A mason very rarely possesses all the tools that he requires, for borrowing from a fellow worker is a common practice in the trade. There are 3 categories of tools in this collection. (1) Those used for hard stone, e.g. Portland (2) Marble tools (3) Soft stone (eg. Bath & Caen) stone. // In addition a craftsman usually carries all kinds of odd pieces of iron, of carborundum, blocks of wood which may be useful to him. // Hingston is now employed on the costing side of the trade (passed City & Guilds exam) & has ceased to be a practising craftsman. He has worked in these[?] counties[?] – Abingdon, Eton College Chapel, Windsor & marble works in Lambeth.’, Letter, Ben Hingston to MERL, 7 August 1958 – ‘… I have a fairly comprehensive kit of Stone Mason’s tools which I do not expect to use again, and if by chance you want them I shall be pleased to hear from you. // I have been a stone mason for some years but having just passed my Higher National Certificate I have got a much better job in a professional office. I could sell my tools, or give them away, or keep them. In fact I have parted with a few of the more unusual ones to three apprentices, and in the course of time the whole lot will just disperse. // There is a large set of Portland stone tools, a small but adequate set of Soft stone tools, a few Hard stone tools, a small set of carving a latter-cutting tools, a complete marble polishing kit, and some of the stone fixing tools; also sundry oddments, like a Mosaic hammer, and an old Saw-setting hammer. The tools are all genuine, and mainly contemporary…’

Metal, lead, Fibre