Colonial chalk line design?

[rich pierce]

I’d like to get or make a chalk line of a type used in the 1700s. But I don’t know what they look like. I found one design purported to be add in the colonial period. It isn’t of the “can and reel” type. Anyone here know what was common?  I’d not be surprised if chalk lines were used to snap centerlines on gunstock blanks.

Like this?

[Eric Kettenburg]

I would bet most common was just a smooth stick or dowel, and you got chalk on your hands.  Totally serious.

[bluenoser]

There are two examples of early chalk lines or chalking boxes in the attached link.  I ASSUME they would date to the 18th century.  Many years ago, I saw a similar, but less ornate, chalking box in a local antique shop.  I suspect it was a common practice to simply have the line wound around a convenient holder and draw it through caked chalk to load it for use.  My late father did it that way and I still have a piece of his caked chalk somewhere around here.
Hope this helps.
https://haeschecollectibles.net/antique_plumb_bobs__chalk_lines

[Dale Halterman]

I have my father's old tool box and it contains a string wrapped around a stick and a cake of chalk. Not 18th century, but I am sure sticks had been inverted by then.

Dale H

[rich pierce]

There are two examples of early chalk lines or chalking boxes in the attached link.  I ASSUME they would date to the 18th century.  Many years ago, I saw a similar, but less ornate, chalking box in a local antique shop.  I suspect it was a common practice to simply have the line wound around a convenient holder and draw it through caked chalk to load it for use.  My late father did it that way and I still have a piece of his caked chalk somewhere around here.
Hope this helps.
https://haeschecollectibles.net/antique_plumb_bobs__chalk_lines

Super cool, thanks!

[rich pierce]

I have my father's old tool box and it contains a string wrapped around a stick and a cake of chalk. Not 18th century, but I am sure sticks had been inverted by then.

Dale H

 

[T.C.Albert]

Roy Underhill made and has instructions for the kind you show.
The bent reel and handle style. I’ve made one and they are fun to do.
Not super great to store and use though.
Tim A

[rich pierce]

Roy Underhill made and has instructions for the kind you show.
The bent reel and handle style. I’ve made one and they are fun to do.
Not super great to store and use though.
Tim A

Thanks!
I’m thinking of something along these lines as a winter project. There’s no indication of scale. 8”? A foot long?


how to draw a d20

[T.C.Albert]

If I recall right, that style was Japanese or more Asian. It would be a neat one to make too.
Here’s a drawing of the typical reel type only square done by Eric Sloan.
Tim A

[bluenoser]

Rich,
That looks similar to the one I saw in the antique shop except, as I recall (risky at my age), the top of the chalk chamber was more or less flat and the whole thing was more squared off. If I were to build one, I believe I would incorporate a lid for the chalk chamber. European habitation goes back to the 1600s in these parts and I have no reason to believe it was not colonial, but one cannot be certain.

[rich pierce]

Rich,
That looks similar to the one I saw in the antique shop except, as I recall (risky at my age), the top of the chalk chamber was more or less flat and the whole thing was more squared off. If I were to build one, I believe I would incorporate a lid for the chalk chamber. European habitation goes back to the 1600s in these parts and I have no reason to believe it was not colonial, but one cannot be certain.

I like the lid idea. Could be like a wooden patchbox lid or a brass patchbox lid to give it a “gunsmith’s chalk line” look. Could use an internal reel/spool. Still thinkin. Albrecht supposedly made a coffee grinder, so….

[bluenoser]

Sounds like a fun project.  I like the sliding lid idea - should be relatively spill proof.  The brass lid - not so much, but that is just my opinion.  You might consider putting a felt wiper in the hole between the reel and the chalk chamber so chalk is less likely to be pulled back into the reel during rewind.
Just thinking out loud

[rich pierce]

Good input!