Thread: Nail origins???

Late 1800's to early 1900's, having worked on buildings of that era. Others may have more informed knowledge than that.

Vern, try the Qantilda Museum in Winton staff there may be able to assist.

I retrieved some timber from a bench seat courtesy of the Kempsey Showgrounds NSW in March this year. It also had square headed nails.

The research that I did lead me to believe that the timber was from the 1920’s and possibly as late as 1930. Whilst the nails may have been from an old stash in a farmers shed, it appears to have been used 90-100 years ago.

Hope this helps.

These types of nails were used right up to around the 1950's, I have found in some pieces, but mostly in the early 1900's as has been stated.

TTIT

I think your nails are called "cut nails." Do they look a a little like this?

Why Cut Nails Are Better (toolsforworkingwood.com)

I think in the UK they were used for flooring.

Regards
Paul

Cut nails are different, Bushy. They are cut from flat iron. Beloved by the old coffin makers, as when driven into end grain, they bend, giving added strength.
TTIT, if you contact the Furniture History Society, you will probably find someone who can give you chapter & verse on them.

Thank for all the input everyone - much appreciated and I'll go with the nails at least being around 100 years old. I have googled my butt off but not knowing exactly how to describe these nails makes it difficult. Searching 'wire nails' and 'square head' doesn't bring much up as the two don't seem to co-exist on any of the nail history sites. I have found out since first posting that the table originated in the Gilgandra area so my ID on the timber being White Cypress fits and the nails could indeed have been in a jar in the shed on the farm for who knows how long when the table was made. I'm going to ask the table's owner if they would like the nail heads embedded in the 'reconstruction' as testament to it's age - she originally mentioned adding some railway-spike heads which I'm not that keen on - would rather keep some of it's authenticity I think
Gails-table.jpg

Here's a bit of vintage Nail talk we did down the Restoration end of the forum .

Square Head Nails

Casting my mind back 60 years, I remember being shown one in 1st year woodwork at school, and it was called a diamond head nail, and had been replaced by round-headed wire nails then. However, when I google 'wire nails' the ones I find are slightly similar, but not the same.