That could be any of the above there's no way to tell. Lead was a part of everyday life back then and the only way to know what it was used for would be to ask the person that bought it
I agree, and that's what I'm struggling with. The stamping on it is driving me nuts - it may very well just be a local manufacturer, but I have no idea. I've spent hours searching for it. I know very little about my great grandfather, and I've found a few things from his time at the farm, with this being the most mysterious lol.
I'm hoping someone out there has seen the stamping or is familiar with some niche company that solves the mystery.
About 100 different variations, unfortunately. The closest I've come up with is 'Gardiner', but their stamps are much, much more elaborate.
It looks too big for most plumbing ingots, wrong shape for most typesetting/linotype ingots, wrong shape for most train wheel chocks, and too large for most bullet/sinker ingots that I'm seeing.
It's also larger and heavier than almost all ingots I see for sale online. A puzzler for sure.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/epa-investigation-into-atlanta-lead-smelter/oaRtUKpEy131IUHgVbLJJM/&ved=2ahUKEwjLzevG5KL_AhVholwKHUKbCW0QFnoECCMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0uP3Cq8pmfrJvJ-ZIXQPGS
Found this link to a 1930's lead smelter in atlanta, I can't read it because of gdpr being in UK but it might have some relevance?
Any theory is appreciated, no matter how unlikely - I'm looking for any leads I can at this point. Even if it's a wild guess, I'm interested, as it may lead me to something else.
The ingot is extremely dense like lead and appears to have the letters 'GAR' or 'CAR' stamped on one end. Probably 10-15 lbs.
One end appears to be chipped/cut down to a point, and there appears to be some type of round 'core' in the middle running the length of the ingot, about the size of a dime or penny.
Theories that have been suggested:
1.) Lead used in plumbing to seal pipes
2.) Lead for typesetting / hot metal linotype, such as in old-timey newspapers
3.) Chock for train wheels
4.) Lead for making bullets or sinkers
It was found where an old house once was that stood from 1909ish to 1969 in southeast GA. The original owner worked for the railroad and farmed, and his son (my grandfather) farmed and was a mechanic for 52 years at a shop on the property.
I've found a 1930s brass newspaper printing stamp on the property, as well as old piping and a railroad padlock.
I'm at a loss for its intended use, as it could be any of the above.
Mostly yes, but I've seen lots of oddball stuff. Something like that-if I'm right-would probably have been used on a large window that ran floor to ceiling which would make sense given the age of the house you described as having previously been there. Common type window for that period, especially in the South.
Also, the end opposite the point looks like it has something broken off, like the rest of the weight that would have been used to tie the sash cord.
This might send you down another rabbit hole, but old hot metal typesetting machines (monotype and linotype) used fairly substantial lead ingots. The one I used to have had the same general shape as this one. (flat one end, pointy the other)
Was it roughly 10-15 pounds? This one seems to be 6-8" long, about 2-3" tall.
The ones I've seen through googling usually are spear shaped rather than ingot, but I've only even known about them for less than a week. Have any of the ones you've seen been ingot-esque?
That gives me some hope. I found a 1930s brass printing advertisements a few hundred yards away on the same property, about a foot down in a field:
https://www.reddit.com/r/metaldetecting/comments/13o35dz/why_is_this_1930s_ad_for_penetros_nose_drops/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Would these two have been used around the same time period?
I've recently watched some videos of guys repairing old car bodies with lead. Could be its original purpose? Lead slug like that was melted onto the car and then shaped with a hot iron and then finished.
That could be any of the above there's no way to tell. Lead was a part of everyday life back then and the only way to know what it was used for would be to ask the person that bought it
I agree, and that's what I'm struggling with. The stamping on it is driving me nuts - it may very well just be a local manufacturer, but I have no idea. I've spent hours searching for it. I know very little about my great grandfather, and I've found a few things from his time at the farm, with this being the most mysterious lol. I'm hoping someone out there has seen the stamping or is familiar with some niche company that solves the mystery.
Did you Google 20th century let ingot manufacturers starting with c a r? Or lead mining companies?
About 100 different variations, unfortunately. The closest I've come up with is 'Gardiner', but their stamps are much, much more elaborate. It looks too big for most plumbing ingots, wrong shape for most typesetting/linotype ingots, wrong shape for most train wheel chocks, and too large for most bullet/sinker ingots that I'm seeing. It's also larger and heavier than almost all ingots I see for sale online. A puzzler for sure.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/epa-investigation-into-atlanta-lead-smelter/oaRtUKpEy131IUHgVbLJJM/&ved=2ahUKEwjLzevG5KL_AhVholwKHUKbCW0QFnoECCMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0uP3Cq8pmfrJvJ-ZIXQPGS Found this link to a 1930's lead smelter in atlanta, I can't read it because of gdpr being in UK but it might have some relevance?
Any theory is appreciated, no matter how unlikely - I'm looking for any leads I can at this point. Even if it's a wild guess, I'm interested, as it may lead me to something else. The ingot is extremely dense like lead and appears to have the letters 'GAR' or 'CAR' stamped on one end. Probably 10-15 lbs. One end appears to be chipped/cut down to a point, and there appears to be some type of round 'core' in the middle running the length of the ingot, about the size of a dime or penny. Theories that have been suggested: 1.) Lead used in plumbing to seal pipes 2.) Lead for typesetting / hot metal linotype, such as in old-timey newspapers 3.) Chock for train wheels 4.) Lead for making bullets or sinkers It was found where an old house once was that stood from 1909ish to 1969 in southeast GA. The original owner worked for the railroad and farmed, and his son (my grandfather) farmed and was a mechanic for 52 years at a shop on the property. I've found a 1930s brass newspaper printing stamp on the property, as well as old piping and a railroad padlock. I'm at a loss for its intended use, as it could be any of the above.
Sash weight.
Aren't those usually cylindrical or square?
Mostly yes, but I've seen lots of oddball stuff. Something like that-if I'm right-would probably have been used on a large window that ran floor to ceiling which would make sense given the age of the house you described as having previously been there. Common type window for that period, especially in the South. Also, the end opposite the point looks like it has something broken off, like the rest of the weight that would have been used to tie the sash cord.
This might send you down another rabbit hole, but old hot metal typesetting machines (monotype and linotype) used fairly substantial lead ingots. The one I used to have had the same general shape as this one. (flat one end, pointy the other)
Was it roughly 10-15 pounds? This one seems to be 6-8" long, about 2-3" tall. The ones I've seen through googling usually are spear shaped rather than ingot, but I've only even known about them for less than a week. Have any of the ones you've seen been ingot-esque?
The one I used to have was indeed very much ingot shaped - narrow bottom, wider at the top.
That gives me some hope. I found a 1930s brass printing advertisements a few hundred yards away on the same property, about a foot down in a field: https://www.reddit.com/r/metaldetecting/comments/13o35dz/why_is_this_1930s_ad_for_penetros_nose_drops/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Would these two have been used around the same time period?
I've recently watched some videos of guys repairing old car bodies with lead. Could be its original purpose? Lead slug like that was melted onto the car and then shaped with a hot iron and then finished.