Posted 10 years ago
APShistorynj
(1 item)
Can anyone identify these items and tell me what they are used for?
Both items are some type of iron spike tapered to a point at one end with a heated and hammered closed eye hook at the other end. Both are 1/2" by 3/8" at the eye hook end and taper to a point at the other end. Both have cut notches or
groves on three of the four sides. One is 4 1/2" long and one is 3 7/8" long. Both came from a structure built in the early 1800's. They were found inside a wall that was removed.
Got any ideas?
They are old wire spikes. You hammer them into a post and pass telegraph or other wires through them....lots of uses. RER(BOB)
Thank You, Loumanal. I have had these nails to historian's , local museum staff, a black smith, and a few local old timers. Not a one had a clue. The building they were found in is part of a village built in the early 1800's for the workers of a Iron Furnace and a Paper Mill. They were behind a door trim molding like someone wanted to hide them. I went over the buildings in the village with a fine tooth comb in an attempt to find them in use. I am going to go back and in areas where wires were hung on poles and trees. The railroad that serviced this village shut down in 1954 and the track, ties, and poles with wires still hanging from some of them were abandon. I would like to find the same type of nails in that area left to tell a story of what they once were used for to complete my quest.
Thanks again for your solid info.
APS
My guess is pitons for climbing.
I wonder if they may have been one half of a simple hinge.
I would call it an eye spike.
Found this in a search using those words:
http://www.chichilticale.com/78.htm
I am quite sure these were not for wires, they would need glass insulators in the eyes.
My first though is I'm with Walks on the hinge part. They were still using them for gates not too long ago.
I agree that they could have been used for hanging things...hanging Oil lamps, hearth utensils with rings added etc.. If it dates as old as the house, I would agree that probably not for wiring. RER(BOB)
As I know them from New England they are eye spikes. They would have been driven into wood and the barbs on the shank prevented them from backing out. They are confused with drop pin hinges and cotter key hinges. They were common in barns and around farms. I never saw electrical wire run through them but rope, wire fence and stanchion enclosures had them.