Basic Tools

ย 

Basic Tool Mason Plum Bob

ย 

Zero Error Tool

It is truth that books were written from experiential but no one can do any thing by book, because fun is knowledge based and shifted from a practical person to others followers.

About 25 years ago a mason question me that what is man made thing which has no error, I went to think about man made machines daily used equipment, tools etc and guessed many things, he reject all my pointed tools, then I tired and let him to tell me, he did not replied only show his hand where plum bob was hanging & moving due to his hand motion I asked this one he smile and tell me from the time of its invention till to date no error/fault traced/calculated in it. So we proudly say a great tool was created by a great person that has no error was invented only for us I mean surveyors.

I thank full for this great invention of that whom I do not know.

Plum bob is metal made tool probably it made of mild steel, cast iron, brass etc here in Pakistan mild steel/cast iron plum bob used by masons, shuttering carpenters, steel fabricators plumbers and brass made used by practical engineers/professional surveyors.

It is a simple tool having 3 parts 1, Lotto 2, Thread/Silk wire3, Kanda as shown in the sketch.

1,Lotto

About 120 gram mild steel lotto made on lath machine mostly having No-7ย  used in general professionals here in Pakistan having conical pointer below and two 3/32โ€.hole in its neck one across neck horizontally and one from top to some below horizontal hole (in past a brass neck with thread and hole was separate)

2, Holding wire

Holding wire mostly 15 feet long maximum 1/16โ€ thick made of thread or pure silk used.

3, Kanda

Third part of this historical tool is kanda it also made of mild steel 5/16โ€ round bar its length is equal to outer dia of lotto usually 1 ยฝโ€. A hole 3/32โ€ made 1/16โ€ a side from its center length wise.

Uses of plum bob

I do not know its history but here in indo-pak subcontinent many monuments constructed by ย Mughals Empire are still questing to the new world how we are still holding our position and having attraction who design us who construct us and ย who finish us what was theirย  qualification from where they got a P.H.D,Masters,Bachular&Diplomas.

I have no answer if any body has answer please must inform to me for my knowledge.

I have a simple answer that they were devoted professionals.

They used a basic tool who has his advantage from centuries to this global connected modern world.

Every one do not know the base of plum bob but when they need truly reference or calibration only basic tool will be standing alone with its centuries advantage. for a reference check the box of latest survey instrument. Many surveyors commented that manufacturer put it to complete/increase the weight of instrument box because they are technically innocent. ย 

ย 

As per history tell to me by a kasuriย  mason North meridian/line were forwarded by two plum bob hanging on two big wooden (ghori) stools such used in scaffolding in building construction and a professional range them with eye sight and forward/establish line. Also this method applied to make truly vertical with single plum bob & stool.

In above two methods professional sat about a distance from stool and range.

Now we use it only for to put a structure member verticality. Such as wall plaster,pipe,columns,etc and to shift the points from ground floor to first & all above floors. when we its change its direction 1/16โ€ apart kanda hole of wire is to ensure -1/16โ€& +1/16โ€ vertical. Everyone have not a concept about it because it is fun not a game. here in Pakistan mostly named professionals having foreign degrees speaking English wearing pent shirts but never touch the basic or modern surveying instrument in the field they do not know the base of survey but called foreign qualified.

Calibration

No need to calibration of it only check the size of kanda is equal to dia of lotto and thread/silk wire thickness should not less than hole of wire in the neck of plum bob. ย ย ย ย ย 

ย 

Note:- District Kasur is in Punjab Pakistan most of historical buildings were constructed by kasuri masons or their followers.

ย 

Sorry to those who has objection on my writing & language

It is my first topic hope you all will like and soon I will try to write on other basic tools

ย 

Thanking you all

ย 

M akram shahid

ย 

ย 

โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community to add thoughts!

Join Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community

Thoughts

  • for detail see picture in my pictures
  • It is an interesting story that combines history and a basic tool. I do not understand every reference you made but then I do not understand every reference made in most of the stories I read. The concept of the use of the plumb bob to raise verticals goes deep into our history. Modern scientists who study gravity might debate whether the plumb bob is without error. But for the purposes of establishing the vertical on a construction project there is not a more accurate tool.
This reply was deleted.

Log into community to no longer see ads

Land Surveying Guides

Our Blog Sitemap

 
 

Explore Surveying Locally

USA Surveying Forums
Asia Surveying Forums
Africa Surveying Forums
Middle East Surveying Forums
European Surveying Forums
South American Surveying Forums
Oceania Surveying Forums
Surveying Equipment Support Forums
Search Survey Photos
Add Posts, Surveying Photos, Videos and Articles to the Surveyor Community
Add Stuff to Community

 


 
 
 

 

 

Latest in Surveyor Community

Justin Farrowโ€™s photo was featured in Surveyors Online Toolbox
GlobeZilla User Guide
Welcome to GlobeZilla, an interactive tool that lets you project custom equirectangular maps onto a 3D globe, adjust settings like rotation speed, background, and size, and even create GIFs of your globe in action. This guideโ€ฆ
17 hours ago
Justin Farrowโ€™s photo was featured in Surveyors Online Toolbox
ย 
Overview of the Historic Land Surveyor Locations from a Land Surveyor's Perspective
The Historic Land Surveyor Locations page provides an interactive map of significant landmarks related to surveying history across the world. By integratingโ€ฆ
17 hours ago
Jennifer Reeder is now a member of Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community
19 hours ago
Chris Wall and Sabinus Chinenye Ugwuanyi joined Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community
Land Surveyor Land Surveyor
yesterday
Joshua Parker and Frederic Cann joined Land Surveyors United - Surveying Education Community
Land Surveyor Not a Surveyor
Sunday
Episode 235 - Dr. Tony Nettleman, Attorney, Educator, Author, Speaker & Mentor via GeoRadio- All Land Surveyor Podcasts in One

Such an interesting conversation! The guys were joined this week by the one and only Dr. Tony Nettleman. Tony is a Land Surveyor, Real Property Attorney, Author, Speaker, and Educator, who has been practicing for over 25 years. Dr. Nettlemanโ€ฆ

Sunday
Justin Farrowโ€™s discussion was featured in Continuing Education
Ethics courses, while commonly required as part of the Continuing Education (CE) for Professional Land Surveyors, differ in terms of the specific requirements, the number of hours, and how these courses are integrated into the overall CEโ€ฆ
Nov 12
Justin Farrow favorited Justin Farrow's discussion Exploring How US States Differences for Ethics in Continuing Education in Continuing Education
Nov 12
Moreโ€ฆ