Copper plumb line with little statues (0785)
Index: 0785
Year: > 84 (see below)
Maker: ?
Dimensions: Diam 3 x 17 cm
Info
Plumb line made from 30mm bullet shell. On the screw cap, would assume statue of Maria, but not sure. On the plumb itself, also a small statue, but seems rather an aristocratic figure. The bottom has a steel point and can be unscrewed from the statue. Assume this could have been part of a bullet?
Seems these kind of plumbs were made by soldiers in the trenches during the world wars, but as the shell inscriptions refer (if I'm correct) to 84 as production year ...
Inscriptions on shell groove and belt:
807 CY 84 PRAC 4Z
I 30 MM RG 84
From above markings:
807 : Lot number
CY : The filling station would be the Royal Ordnance Factory Chorley
84 : Would be the year
PRAC : Practive round
4Z : Practice mark 4, Z would indicate nitrocellulose
I : The case type
30 MM : Callibre
RG : Made at Radway Green
84 : Date
