How Were Nails Made In The 1700s

Nails as clues to age

Most everyone knows that handmade nails are older than automobile fabricated nails. But could you identify a handmade nail if you saw 1? And could you separate an old nail from a reproduction boom? In addition to looking at how old nails were made, this article will also discuss how to examine nail holes, rust left by nails plus where, how and why specific types and shapes of nails were used.

How nails work

Nails, modern or antique, are able to be used as fasteners considering of the cellular structure of wood on the microscopic level. As a nail is driven into forest, the tip of the boom pushes apart or crushes forest cells in its path (Fig. three-A). When the tip of the blast passes, the cells spring back and endeavour to resume their erstwhile positions. This applies pressure to the boom shank (Fig. three-B) in the contrary direction of the nail path and creates resistance which holds the nail in place. The principle is the same for all nails old or modern regardless of shape or how they were made. Mathematical formulas can accurately predict the holding power of nails based on size of boom, depth boom is driven, and the species and moisture content of the wood.

Nails take been in use since the beginning of the Statuary Age, ca. 1800 B.C. From that fourth dimension to the beginning of the 19th century, ca. 1790-1810, most nails were made entirely by paw at the forge. A nail cutting machine designed in the 1790s cutting the nail's shank and reduced hand labor to but forming the head of the nail. At the fourth dimension of their introduction, these auto cutting nails were sometimes referred to as "cold nails" because they were not fabricated at the forge. These machine/handmade nails were used up to the end of the 19th century. By the 1890s, the entire nail was completely machine formed producing the rounded shank or wire boom that continues in use today.

American mitt wrought nails--those made entirely by paw or headed past hand--were washed by metallic workers specializing in nail-making also as blacksmiths who made nails part fourth dimension or to order. The work was hard and gave ascension to an early expression, "to work like a nailer" used to describer any intense activity. Most of these nails were formed from a smash rod, a bar of iron bachelor from iron mills close to the approximate size of the nail. Nail rods were at start imported by American blast makers from mills in England but later on used bars made in the colonies.

The starting time step in making a mitt forged boom was to form the shank. Next, the head was formed with a heading tool (Figs. 5-B & C). Early on nails have 2 types of heads: a round caput whose head is above the surface of the wood and used for general purpose fastening and a T-caput whose caput is driven below the surface and used for end work. The forged round head blast is also chosen a rose head because the hammered head often resembles the petals on a rose. A variation of the T-caput, the 50-head, is the same as a T-head only with half the head cut off. Cross sections of pre-1800 nails are mostly square; shanks from 1800-1890 are rectangular; mod shanks are round.

The earliest forged nails are identified by their irregular shanks and hammer marks on both shanks and heads. When viewed from above, early circular heads accept a meandering outline that is annihilation but round. Later machine cut shanks volition still show hammering which was necessary to course the caput. Fully motorcar-made nails used since the 1890s have round shanks and circular heads similar those in Fig. 6. Modern heads in particular are virtually ever a most perfect circle.

Reproductions of hand made nail shapes are currently beingness fabricated by casting in a mold. These new cast pieces typically evidence mold seams and/or grinding marks where the mold seams have been removed. Generally, this means forth the shanks and across the heads. Rather than a broadly dimpled hammered surface, bandage nails have a very gritty textured surface. Some late 19th century nails were cast but had very express use. In general, any nail with molds seams or grinding marks should be considered of recent manufacture. Some genuinely sometime cut nails with hand forged heads may have burrs along the edges of their shanks. These burrs should non be confused with grinding marks that appear in the center of the shanks and heads.

What yous tin can learn from nail holes

Pieces that accept been around for 150+ years oft have at to the lowest degree a few original nails either missing or replaced. Looking at the holes left by the missing nails can provide valuable information.

The irregular forged heads of early nails, for instance, leave an irregular impression in the wood. Perfectly round heads on modern wire nails leave an well-nigh perfect circle impressed in the wood; early finishing T-heads leave a rectangular impression (Figs. 13-15). Irregular impressions from early on round headed nails are correct in subconscious or unseen places such as backs and sides of drawers, backs of cases, etc., which is where they were originally used. Finding rectangular impressions from early finishing head nails in those same locations is wrong--the small T-headed finishing nails were used in exposed areas. The caption is oft that genuinely one-time wood that at ane time was visible has been used to repair, or entirely supervene upon, the original wood, or that the entire piece is a totally fabricated up. It either case, the types of boom caput impressions can exist a clue that the piece is, at the least, non original, and at the worst, a deliberate imitation.

Pay particular attention to molding, trim and other outside details. In these positions you should look to notice small T-caput finishing nails driven flush with the surface on early furniture. You should not observe tiny filled in nail holes which are generally a sign that modernistic circular headless finishing nails accept been used.

A few replaced nails are probably honest repairs and tin actually enhance a pieces' merits to legitimate and normal clothing and help authenticate age. Wholesale replacement or nails mismatched to their original function are a warning sign of potential bug.

Color of the blast pigsty

The condition of the woods surrounding nail heads and boom holes tin provide additional clues about historic period. Early forged nails are a type of wrought atomic number 26 with very low amounts of carbon typically nigh iii to 4 per cent. This type of fe has a very high resistance to corrosion. That'due south why wrought fe was used for early architectural features like balcony railings, gates and other pieces meant to be used outdoors. In addition to the low carbon, forged nails are also somewhat protected past the fire scale which forms on the surface as a upshot of being heated in the fire.

The high resistance to corrosion is due to how low carbon atomic number 26 oxidizes, or rusts. When exposed, it develops a blackrust (Fe³0^iv) that does not flake off. This stable film of rust really prevents further corrosion by keeping oxygen away from the underlying metal. Red/brown rust, (Fe²0^three) is the more common type of rust that causes serious flaking and damage to iron with higher amounts of carbon. This rust is typical of virtually new cast iron reproductions.

Knowing how iron corrodes and what colors of rust are formed, helps united states tell what types of nails were used fifty-fifty if the original boom is missing. When an early on wrought iron smash corrodes, or rusts, it leaves a black stain in the forest around the blast hole. Newer nails made of iron with higher carbon leave cherry-red/brownish rust stains in the wood. The extent and penetration of discoloration caused by either type of rust depends on the blazon of woods and where a piece has been used or stored. Some woods, like oak, have very strong natural acids and tend to produce deeply saturated stains.

Exist sure that the condition of the blast matches the surrounding wood. It is a common practice for forgers to combine old woods and old hardware--including nails--from several genuinely former derelict pieces to make one "good" piece. If the forest effectually the blast head is blackened, then the nail should be blackened too. Removing a rusty nail from rust-free forest is a danger signal that should crusade firsthand suspicion.

You lot should never base your evaluation of a slice on one piece of evidence lonely. The presence of hand forged nails is not a guarantee of age by itself. Analyzing nails, nail holes and the type of nails used in various locations is merely one pace in gathering information upon which to base of operations your decision of age and status. Early forged nails salvaged from old pieces and mod reproductions shaped similar early nails are easily obtained. A healthy skepticism is your all-time defence against a fake. And Always enquire permission before yous conduct your inspection.

Fig. 1 (New) Reproductions which resemble old round head nails. Sold every bit "collector'due south items".

Fig. 2 (One-time) Grouping of typical circular head manus forged nails. Look for hand hammered surfaces, irregular heads and shanks.

Fig. 3 Tips of nails crush or divide the cells of woods (A) as they are driven in. Every bit the tip of the blast passes, cells spring dorsum putting pressure on the blast (B). This pressure holds the nail in place and makes it difficult to withdraw.

Fig. iv Guess time line of the development of nails

Fig. 5-A

Fig. v-B

Fig. five-C

Fig. 5-D

Figs. 5 A-D. Forged or machine cut shanks (A) had heads shaped by heading tools (B & C). Heads were formed past hammering to complete the finished boom (D).

Fig. half-dozen New machine made wire nails with round shanks like these have been used from the 1890s. Flat head common nails top and bottom are for general use; modern finishing nail, center.

Fig. 7 Round head

Fig. eight T-head

Figs. 7-8 In that location are two types of heads found on American paw forged nails. They are the round head, a general purpose nail and the flat T-head used as a finishing nail in cabinetry and other detailed pieces.

Fig. 9 (New) View of mold seam in new bandage nail. Such a seam would never appear in a hand forged nail or a car cut nail with forged head. Notice rough gritty surface texture instead of hammered surface on forged nails. Shown about 3X bodily size.

Fig. 10 (New) Close upwardly showing rough grinding marks along mold seam on new cast nail. This example shown near 3X actual size.

Fig. eleven Head of new cast smash showing grinding marks along mold seam.

Fig. 12 Domed head of new bandage nail reproduced today. In full general, virtually all cast nails are of contempo manufacture.

Nailhead impression & nail holes

Fig. thirteen

Fig. xiv

Fig. xv

Fig. 16 Tiptop view of nail pigsty. Big arrow shows blackness stain where original nail was for many years. Small arrows betoken to more recent red/brown rust formed by modern nail placed in the same nail hole.

Fig. 17 Cantankerous section of the nail hole from Fig. xvi. Big arrow points to blackened area left by early original nail. Small arrows indicate to recent reddish/brown rust left by new blast in the same hole.

Fig. eighteen (New) Reproductions of early finishing nails with flat heads and apartment tapering shanks. These new nails are cast in molds. Expect for mold seams and grinding marks which never appear on authentic early nails.

Fig. 19 (Old) Group of typical old nails with flat T-heads and apartment shanks used in finish work. These were at starting time made entirely past manus. Later, a automobile cut the flat shanks and the heads were formed by paw.

Source: https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Nails-as-clues-to-age

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