Plastic Plugs/Caps

[PLS7393]

Similar to another thread asking the timeline of a PK nail, I have a similar question that I hope someone can answer.

When was the plastic plug/cap developed? One surveyor mentioned to me around the same time corner records were initiated, which was 1974.

Is this true, or does one of my elder friends have a more specific timeframe of when plastic became available?

Thanks!

[bruce hall]

first plastic plugs in 1978/1979 or there-a-bouts. They are really a slick and inexpensive identifier(tag), but in my opinion, they don't stand the test of time. I have a hundred or so in the cupboard, and I should throw them away, cause I don't use em anymore.

I don't remember seeing them in the 60's or early 70's, but that doesn't mean they didn't exist.

[E_Page]

The Fall, 1970 issue (#15) of the California Surveyor has an ad for Permamark Plastic Caps.

[Peter Ehlert]

Keith: you are quite welcome to call me friend, but please drop that "Elder" stuff!

in 1970 everyone in Sonoma County was using plastic, they were already the norm at that time in that area... excepting Dick Hogan of course

[Berk Blake, PLS CA]

We were using them in 1968.

[btaylor]

I was going to guess early 70s, but looks like even earlier.

[LA Stevens]

What do you use now?

[bruce hall]

pipes, fill them with dirt, fill the top inch or so with concrete, set a 3/4 inch diameter brass disc stamped LS 4743 with brass tack. Setting rebar or iron pipe with the plastic caps here in the OC won't pass muster with the CS.

In the street I used to set gear head spikes with washers or railroad spikes with a stamped PM and LS #. But the heads on the gear heads spikes would break if I mis hit them or if I tried to get the last "umph" when they were flush to the pavement. Recently I have found something called a Mag Spike. Allen Instruments has them in Anaheim, I think. The come in two lengths, 3 1/2 inches and about 4 1/2 inches. The head is domed and about 1 inch in diameter. A good looking monument when set with a washer. I'll set a pilot hole in the ac, then set the mag spike, but when that washer doesn't move, I don't hit the spike again. I have broken the head off of these before, and don't want to do it again.

[goodgps]

Bruce,

here in cotton country, we call those "gear heads" Cotton Spindles and you are absolutely right. They will shear in the nastiess way.
We drill a hole in the pavement or concrete for centerlines, and set a 3/4" pipe with plastic cap or a 3/4" rebar w/ plastic cap. they seem to hold up well.
The types if "iron" set in various parts of the state is determined by soil and terrain. in heavy peat soil, iron pins / rebars are better because they "heave" less than iron pipe. pins seem to be used heavily in mountainous regions too.
Over in the Salinas valley, my dad uses 1" iron pipes.

[PLS7393]

Bruce,

here in cotton country, . . . they seem to hold up well.
The types if "iron" set in various parts of the state is determined by soil and terrain. in heavy peat soil, iron pins / rebars are better because they "heave" less than iron pipe. pins seem to be used heavily in mountainous regions too.
Over in the Salinas valley, my dad uses 1" iron pipes.

Good, the reason souther CA does not use plastic, is they do not accept plastic as a durable monument. Fires destroy them, and most of southern CA does not use plastic.

The reason I was curious on the timeframe is to see if there is any correlation (sp) with the invention of plastic caps and the requirements for corner records.

Thanks to all.