On our outing with the Young Old Fogeys last Saturday, we checked out the Carriage Room Museum, which once housed carriages for the family who established Folgers Coffee. The museum was small but had a lot of interesting tidbits about the once-upon-a-time Folger estate as well as local history of Woodside, California.
An item called "Cut Nails" caught my eye. According to the exhibit's label, iron nails were made by hand until the late 1700s. A tradesman, called a slater, cut specific sizes of nails from iron, after which another tradesman, called the nailer, formed the nail heads and points on his anvil.
Look at how skinny these nails are and how tiny their heads are!
Today I'm hooking up with Our World Tuesday. Here's the link for you to check out participants from around the world, and maybe to join up yourself. Thanks, Our World Tuesday hosts!
It's amazing how many things that are made by machine nowadays were once made by hand.
ReplyDeleteThe toothpick is another one.
DeleteI had idea that Folger was established in California and the Cut Nails board is fascinating. What great workmanship! Thanks so much for sharing these.
ReplyDelete-Soma
You're welcome, Soma.
DeleteOh those nails are difficult to make, can't imagine how the nail for Christ was made!
ReplyDeleteShiver.
DeleteVery unusual nails! How cool.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, too. Unusual, not at all like the nails we buy today.
DeleteMust of been a pain to make those nails by hand
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the concentration a nailer needed? Lose focus, Ouch!
DeleteInteresting. Sounds like you had a good visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, especially when going through the museum with friends.
DeleteI remember watching a blacksmith make nails to fix a horseshoe (which he had also made) to a horse's hoof ... fascinating. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the sound blacksmiths make. Ting. Ting. Ting. I
DeleteFirst of all, I love the name Young Old Fogeys! If I lived near you I would join your group! Those nails are interesting. Pretty sure I'd end up with a purple thumb.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be welcome, Sharon. :-)
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