Hi Tim,

The whole subject of marking finished timbers is one that could form the subject of a research dissertation. Please keep in mind that marks can also act as timelines i.e. it is both possible and easy to mark a timber with a race knife whilst it is still green but not when dry and hard. So when dry i.e. as when timbers are reused then marks are more likely to be made using a chisel and mallet so it can become easier to identify what is and what is not contemporary with the original build of a frame.

I recently came across a 2001 "Libri Rari" reprint book of "Duetsche Holzbaukunst" by Carl Schaffer (ISBN 3-88746-432-X) originally published in 1939 which explains the numbering system for multi platform fachwerk frames i.e. where numbering elements regarding height, position and aspect within a frame are incorprated into the numbering system.

Regards

Ken Hume

Regards

Ken Hume