More on the Old Spool

Not too long ago I posted about an old wooden spool that I had picked up.

Recently, a reader sent me a picture of a very similar spool from his dad's tool box. This one was not being used as a chalk line - but was partnered with a plumb bob. Hmm.

What I particularly like is the neat way that the bob is easily attached or unattached to the line. Of course, I'm not sure why you would need to do that, unless it was to keep the line available for other uses.

Maybe, say, as a chalk line?

Here's the picture - thanks Ken!


He also wondered if the spools were actually part of the packaging for the line, and were then just repurposed by the owner:

"I have since wondered if the spool was sold with cord, twine or rope coiled on it much like the plastic spools used today. Then frugal(cheap) carpenters just kept it in their toolbox."

It's an interesting idea, and one that never crossed my mind before! If this was the case, it should be possible to find out by looking at old catalogs and such...