Unusual dive find

[sandchip]

ORIGINAL: blobbottlebob

...The wood itself seems like it has deteriorated a bit...

Cool find. Unless you keep it wet or start treating it to replace the water as it dries out, it'll be crumbs soon.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Great advice Sand. I have already lemon oiled it once. I will do so again as it dries out a bit. It should suck that stuff right up when it's a little drier and that will help it hold it's shape. Without the oil, though, it would shrink to a tiny fraction of it's original size.

 

[blobbottlebob]

I don't know that this will help identify what it was used for. A block at the back of a boat might just be correct. Here are a few pictures of the wood itself. This picture shows the top with the bolt and washer coming through. (You can see a darkened area where the tag was).

 

[blobbottlebob]

This shot shows the back. You can tell that at least some of the pieces of wood at right have already fallen off (either before - or when - I first found it).

 

[blobbottlebob]

This pic shows the bolt coming through the bottom.

 

[blobbottlebob]

The block of wood is made of two pieces nailed together with a bolt through it. The U shape might have allowed this entire chunk to sit over (and rest on) a board that was turned sideways?

 

[blobbottlebob]

I also wonder about the term EASTERN. Is this a directional designation? Assuming this piece was made around 1910, it would be hard to call Wisconsin eastern. Sure, people were spread across North America by then, but the bulk of the population was still probably east of here.

Maybe the eastern was a branch? Like the eastern version. Or maybe it was eastern Pewaukee or the eastern side of the lake? That sounds wrong to me. It seems more likely that eastern was a brand name.

Pewaukee Lake is a long lake that it mostly east / west in orientation. I found the piece near the center on the south side. A big help that is.

 

[tftfan]

Nice , try to post again[], maybe it fit over the rail on the dock, had more info on it at one time ? For rope ? Cool find.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Thanks Tftfan. And cool picture. There was an amusement park on the lake in the 1890s with rides and everything. It was not located right where I found this though. Not too far away. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 miles...

And I know what you mean about posting again. ABN is going in and out of consciousness lately.

 

[Road Dog]

Found a blip about it. Maybe it will help.

http://books.google.com/books?id=mLBLAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA400-IA3&lpg=PA400-IA3&dq=eastern+boat+building+co+waukesha+wis&source=bl&ots=Y7TKkuHog2&sig=fs2ywy8oHtGLGTWnuI2G-ytcZVA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SiVYUs_kL5DW9QSmloHoCA&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=eastern%20boat%20building%20co%20waukesha%20wis&f=false