Port & River — 1730-1775
Caulking-iron, shipwright's caulking iron
Caulking iron. Recovered from the Thames foreshore at Custom House Quay. Often used by shipwrights this chisel like tool has a mushroom head and blade shaped in a fantail. Used to force strands of oakum (fibrous material from old rope) between planks on the deck and side of a ship to make it watertight. Much experience and skill was needed to judge how much oakum to force into the seam. Too much would spring planks apart, too little would not keep the water out.
- Category:
- Port & River
- Object ID:
- 87.107/19
- Object name:
- caulking-iron, shipwright's caulking iron
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1730-1775
- Material:
iron alloy (o)
- Measurements/duration:
- H 162 mm, DM (base) 37 mm, W (tip) 47 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.