There was a time when every bricklayer used rods. One for building my house is still here - a length of 3"x1" hardwood, over 5m long (about a rod), and with a saw cut at every brick course position. They were put at corners for fixing the string line at the correct level. I have seen steel ones marked with ink. Quantity surveyors once measured brickwork in (square) rods.
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