Block Pin
Description
Turned wooden object. Light to mid brown in colour. Natural graining visible on all surfaces. Very slightly flared at one end and very slightly tapered at the other.
The pin is one of the three main parts of a pulley or block. The others being the wheel or sheave (which rotated on the pin), and the shell or case. The pin would have been made of lignum vitae, cog-wood or greenheart, they run through the shell to keep the sheaves in place whilst still letting them spin. A very hard wood called Lignum Vitae was used to make the pins. Lignum Vitae was sourced from the Caribbean or the northern coast of South America. It became an important export from that region. If Lignum Vitae was not available then Ash or sometimes even iron pins would be fitted. Usually made by turning the wood on a lathe, pins were often fitted through the sheave using brass bushes. Brass was used in an attempt to limit wear on a highly stressed part of the pulley.
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Object Detail
Diameter: 45mm (1 3/4")