One and two man stone

[Norman Watts <Norman_Watts@zzzzzzz>]

Craig Disbrow wrote the following, it might interest some.

Around here it was/is (with the old times) a unit of measure used in
ordering stone, or in contracts made for stone work.  I was taught
that it referred to the size of an un-cut stone that one or two men
could set on a stone wall waist high.  Thinking of it in terms of
what a person can move with a pry bar/ pinch bar is pretty crazy.  I
just installed two granite steps for a friend that weighed about 900
pounds each, and I moved them myself about a hundred feet with just a
pry bar.  I have moved twice that in the past at need.  The old
timers around here generally didn't order stone.  They "fetched" it.
Nevertheless, at the fancier homes they would order stone delivered
in sizes that could be worked by the crew.  One man would want one
man stone etc.  The other place where the terms were used is where
they wanted a specific strength of a wall and a contract would
provide that it would be built with one or two man stone for the
relative strengths therein.  I have never heard of measures other
than one or two man stone personally.  The other thing to remember is
that stones can also always be cut, and one person can cut up to two
man stone with the appropriate stone axe.  For two man stone you
shouldn't need anything much bigger than a 16 pounder.  When you get
much bigger than that... you'd want different tools.   I would
estimate that one man stone could range up to 150  or 200 pounds and
two man perhaps a little more than double that.  You can set bigger
stuff than that, but why kill yourself?

Cheers,

Craig Disbrow, MBA, JD.
Disbrow Consulting
603 523 4259