question Any idea of markings ?

[rampant rivet]

A Friend has fitted this oak beam over a doorway in his extension and would like to know what the markings represent, when I saw the crows foot I wondered if it was of military origins its made of oak and the markings have been branded into the timber.

 

 

 

Any Ideas on what these marking are much appreciated.

 

Cheers RR.

[Richard Farrant]

I see "BR" ........ not part of a railway sleeper is it?

[ploughman]

Railway sleepers not normally made of Oak.

[No Signals]

True, but at one time the railways did use the crows foot marking. So maybe there is another railway source for it?

[Griffo]

Hi guys, isn't it the assembly instructions which the carpenter has marked off site??

 

Dave

[rampant rivet]

This timber was salvaged from off a farm Nr Monmouth I'm thinking the markings may be more railway related they were burnt into the timber using branding irons not made by a chippy.

[fv1609]

The crows foot or Pheon is to identify attractive (theft-worthy) items of Government property, but it is the wrong way up relative to the text.

 

If this came from a farm & was branded on, could it not be the farmer just branding this wood demonstrating the different combination of marks he could use on his various animals.

 

As for sleepers I have several here & there are deeply penetrated with years of creosote.

[Tony B]

A lot of farms used old or re-cycled timber. In Devon near Totnes it was the custom to take green timber down to the river to season and buy wood from the ships brocken up. Trouble was a lot of it was so salt soacked the animals chewed it. Donkeys years ago we took down an old wattle and daub barn on the edge of Dartmoor. The timber roof beams were reclaimed for a restoration project. It was as solid as stone, took diamond tools to cut. The wattle and daub was fine until you cracked the outer plaster, then a few days of rain, and it just dissolved. My family is Monmouth based, near Abertillery, my Mother always said there was England Scotland Wales, and Monmouth.

[Lauren Child]

It looks like people's initials (in pairs) to me.

[rampant rivet]

Yes I thought maybe initials but the last two R 3 ?

Edited December 1, 2013 by rampant rivet
typo

[Lauren Child]

Yes I thought maybe initials but the last two B 3 ?

Ah I thought it was "RB".

[Griffo]

Found this!

 

 

1. the asterisk (triple cross-bar) normally means birth or marks the date of birth

2. the cross means death or date of death

 

Regards

 

Dave