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hist_text-digest      Saturday, December 12 1998      Volume 01 : Number 189




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 14:29:45 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: Nails, Reuse, and Powder Horn

Question:
> >    I have watched with interest the recent powder horn discussion.  I wonder
> if someone would mind telling me who invented the powder horn and the
> reasoning behind the selection of materials?
>      good question, open to a lot of debate.  The earliest use of horns for
>  powder that I have seen dated is ca. mid 1500s. Probably in use much prior
> to that.  Horns have been used for a long time to keep things dry.

Horns have been used as containers since at least the Bronze Age.  Re: Romans
using ram's horns as drinking vessels.  Horns were also used as shipping
containers for powder, but were in raw unfinished condition.  They were
certainly plugged, but I don't know if they were usable as delivered.  Many
old trade lists mention X number of horns of powder in their manifests.  Does
anyone know anything about these horns.  Could a strap or thong be added and
the horn used and carried, or were they merely shipping containers?

TOF

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 12:48:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Darrel William Grubbs <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: the price of nails....

> Blacksmiths made some of the nails, but they were more commonly made
by
> "nailers".  Many nailers were women & children who made nails for
spending
> money.  Many home hearths were devised with small forge areas which
were fed
> with coals from the cook fire & "fanned" with a small bellows.
About the only
> special tooling needed for nail production were the "headers" which
were
> simply moulds or in proper terms, "swages" used to keep the head
shape & size
> of a specific nail size uniform.  Some nailers got quite creative in
> decorating the heads of their nails with the use of smaller hammers
& punches.
>
> This info was gleaned from several old issures of ABANA's
(Artist-Blacksmith's
> Association of North America) magazine: "The Anvil's Ring" & NWBA's
(North
> West Blacksmith's Association) magazine "Hot Iron News".
>
> NM
>
> ------------------------------
> The price of nails  Think about the name 4 penny 6penny 8 penny...I
have heard originals that they werename this due to the worth of a
nail of that particular size.. Don't have dates on the sorrs

darrel
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 16:01:23 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Michael Pierce)
Subject: MtMan-List: Re: Nails, Reuse, and Powder Horn

you might also think that a horn was a unit of measure similar to todays
lb of powder
most of your old horns will hold about 1 lb of powder on the large size
horn give or take a bit---

      "Hawk"
Michael Pierce
854 Glenfield Dr.
Palm Harbor, florida   34684
1-[phone]     E-MAIL ADDRESS: [e-mail]

On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 14:29:45 EST [e-mail] writes:
>Question:
>> >    I have watched with interest the recent powder horn
>discussion.  I wonder
>> if someone would mind telling me who invented the powder horn and
>the
>> reasoning behind the selection of materials?
>>      good question, open to a lot of debate.  The earliest use
>of horns for
>>  powder that I have seen dated is ca. mid 1500s. Probably in use
>much prior
>> to that.  Horns have been used for a long time to keep things dry.
>
>Horns have been used as containers since at least the Bronze Age.  Re:
>Romans
>using ram's horns as drinking vessels.  Horns were also used as
>shipping
>containers for powder, but were in raw unfinished condition.  They
>were
>certainly plugged, but I don't know if they were usable as delivered.
>Many
>old trade lists mention X number of horns of powder in their
>manifests.  Does
>anyone know anything about these horns.  Could a strap or thong be
>added and
>the horn used and carried, or were they merely shipping containers?
>
>TOF
>
>

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 02:13:36 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Roy Parker)
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse

On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 03:18:00 EST, you wrote:

>In a message dated 98-12-10 10:11:40 EST, you write:
>
><< What was the cost of the hand made nails as compared to today's
>manufactured
> nails?=20
>
>Unfortunately, I didn't find any references to selling prices for nails.=
  A
>calculated guess would be a few cents per pound, that still reflects in =
our
>present day nail sizes like "6d" =3D 6 cents/lb.  As Long Walker points =
out in
>his message about period powderhorns, this was when a 50 cent trade horn=
 was
>available.  Today, according to his calculations that horn would sell =
for $25
>- $37.50, so the 6d nails would be roughly $3 - $5/lb by today's =
comparison.
>Also we must consider what the wages were in those days.  $1/day was =
good
>money then, so 8lbs of  6d nails would be almost 1/2 day's pay.  Seems I
>remember seeing somewhere bread cost about 2 cents/loaf about this time.=
  With
>this in mind, nails were expensive.
>=20

Some years ago at Williamsburg I was watching a nailmaking
demonstration and asked the smith just what the various 'penny' sizes
meant.  He told me that was the price per hundred nails.  6d being
much smaller than 16d, so were cheaper.

I don't recall any published sources, but there might be something in
one of my Alexander or Sloane books.


Roy Parker, Buckskinner, Brewer, Blacksmith and other "B"'s, including =
"BS".
1999 SW Rendezvous info available at http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 19:34:48 -0700
From: "Barry Conner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse

To see a neat chart with hand made nails, write to TREMONT NAIL CO. Elm
Street at Route 28, P.O.Box 111, Wareham, MA 02571.

Ask for their "Old Fashioned CUT NAILS 1819" display board, there's 20
different styles of nails from this Colonial Company, originally a cotton
mill in 1812 and converted to producing "cut nails" for the ship industry in
1819. Comes with a little history about nails, forged and cut, you'll find
it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had my nail board for a
few years.

Buck
dba/Clark & Sons Mercantile, Inc.
http://www.teleport.com/~walking/clark/


- -----Original Message-----
From: Roy Parker <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 7:17 PM
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse


On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 03:18:00 EST, you wrote:

>In a message dated 98-12-10 10:11:40 EST, you write:
>
><< What was the cost of the hand made nails as compared to today's
>manufactured
> nails?
>
>Unfortunately, I didn't find any references to selling prices for nails.  A
>calculated guess would be a few cents per pound, that still reflects in our
>present day nail sizes like "6d" = 6 cents/lb.  As Long Walker points out
in
>his message about period powderhorns, this was when a 50 cent trade horn
was
>available.  Today, according to his calculations that horn would sell for
$25
>- $37.50, so the 6d nails would be roughly $3 - $5/lb by today's
comparison.
>Also we must consider what the wages were in those days.  $1/day was good
>money then, so 8lbs of  6d nails would be almost 1/2 day's pay.  Seems I
>remember seeing somewhere bread cost about 2 cents/loaf about this time.
With
>this in mind, nails were expensive.
>

Some years ago at Williamsburg I was watching a nailmaking
demonstration and asked the smith just what the various 'penny' sizes
meant.  He told me that was the price per hundred nails.  6d being
much smaller than 16d, so were cheaper.

I don't recall any published sources, but there might be something in
one of my Alexander or Sloane books.


Roy Parker, Buckskinner, Brewer, Blacksmith and other "B"'s, including "BS".
1999 SW Rendezvous info available at http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 22:48:25 -0600
From: John Kramer <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse

For a web link to Tremont Nail try:
<<http://www.mazenails.com/>http://www.mazenails.com/>

John...


At 07:34 PM 12/11/98 -0700, you wrote:
>To see a neat chart with hand made nails, write to TREMONT NAIL CO. Elm
>Street at Route 28, P.O.Box 111, Wareham, MA 02571.
>
>Ask for their "Old Fashioned CUT NAILS 1819" display board, there's 20
>different styles of nails from this Colonial Company, originally a cotton
>mill in 1812 and converted to producing "cut nails" for the ship industry=
 in
>1819. Comes with a little history about nails, forged and cut, you'll find
>it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had my nail board for a
>few years.
>
>Buck
>dba/Clark & Sons Mercantile, Inc.
><http://www.teleport.com/~walking/clark/>http://www.teleport.com/~walking/
clark/
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Roy Parker <[e-mail]>
>To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
>Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 7:17 PM
>Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse
>
>
>On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 03:18:00 EST, you wrote:
>
>>In a message dated 98-12-10 10:11:40 EST, you write:
>>
>><< What was the cost of the hand made nails as compared to today's
>>manufactured
>> nails?
>>
>>Unfortunately, I didn't find any references to selling prices for nails.=
=A0 A
>>calculated guess would be a few cents per pound, that still reflects in=
 our
>>present day nail sizes like "6d" =3D 6 cents/lb.=A0 As Long Walker points=
 out
>in
>>his message about period powderhorns, this was when a 50 cent trade horn
>was
>>available.=A0 Today, according to his calculations that horn would sell=
 for
>$25
>>- $37.50, so the 6d nails would be roughly $3 - $5/lb by today's
>comparison.
>>Also we must consider what the wages were in those days.=A0 $1/day was=
 good
>>money then, so 8lbs of=A0 6d nails would be almost 1/2 day's pay.=A0 Seems=
 I
>>remember seeing somewhere bread cost about 2 cents/loaf about this time.
>With
>>this in mind, nails were expensive.
>>
>
>Some years ago at Williamsburg I was watching a nailmaking
>demonstration and asked the smith just what the various 'penny' sizes
>meant.=A0 He told me that was the price per hundred nails.=A0 6d being
>much smaller than 16d, so were cheaper.
>
>I don't recall any published sources, but there might be something in
>one of my Alexander or Sloane books.
>
>
>Roy Parker, Buckskinner, Brewer, Blacksmith and other "B"'s, including=
 "BS".
>1999 SW Rendezvous info available at
<http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus>http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus
>=20
Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.
John Kramer  <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 09:58:28 -0700
From: "Barry Conner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse

Thanks John,
Was wondering if they had got on line.
YF&B
Buck

- -----Original Message-----
From: John Kramer <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse


For a web link to Tremont Nail try:
<<http://www.mazenails.com/>http://www.mazenails.com/>

John...


At 07:34 PM 12/11/98 -0700, you wrote:
>To see a neat chart with hand made nails, write to TREMONT NAIL CO. Elm
>Street at Route 28, P.O.Box 111, Wareham, MA 02571.
>
>Ask for their "Old Fashioned CUT NAILS 1819" display board, there's 20
>different styles of nails from this Colonial Company, originally a cotton
>mill in 1812 and converted to producing "cut nails" for the ship industry
in
>1819. Comes with a little history about nails, forged and cut, you'll find
>it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had my nail board for a
>few years.
>
>Buck
>dba/Clark & Sons Mercantile, Inc.
><http://www.teleport.com/~walking/clark/>http://www.teleport.com/~walking/
clark/
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Roy Parker <[e-mail]>
>To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
>Date: Friday, December 11, 1998 7:17 PM
>Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse
>
>
>On Fri, 11 Dec 1998 03:18:00 EST, you wrote:
>
>>In a message dated 98-12-10 10:11:40 EST, you write:
>>
>><< What was the cost of the hand made nails as compared to today's
>>manufactured
>> nails?
>>
>>Unfortunately, I didn't find any references to selling prices for nails. A
>>calculated guess would be a few cents per pound, that still reflects in
our
>>present day nail sizes like "6d" = 6 cents/lb. As Long Walker points out
>in
>>his message about period powderhorns, this was when a 50 cent trade horn
>was
>>available. Today, according to his calculations that horn would sell for
>$25
>>- $37.50, so the 6d nails would be roughly $3 - $5/lb by today's
>comparison.
>>Also we must consider what the wages were in those days. $1/day was good
>>money then, so 8lbs of 6d nails would be almost 1/2 day's pay. Seems I
>>remember seeing somewhere bread cost about 2 cents/loaf about this time.
>With
>>this in mind, nails were expensive.
>>
>
>Some years ago at Williamsburg I was watching a nailmaking
>demonstration and asked the smith just what the various 'penny' sizes
>meant. He told me that was the price per hundred nails. 6d being
>much smaller than 16d, so were cheaper.
>
>I don't recall any published sources, but there might be something in
>one of my Alexander or Sloane books.
>
>
>Roy Parker, Buckskinner, Brewer, Blacksmith and other "B"'s, including
"BS".
>1999 SW Rendezvous info available at
<http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus>http://www.sat.net/~robenhaus
>
Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.
John Kramer  <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 12:30:15 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Nail(s) and Thread reuse

In a message dated 98-12-11 21:39:56 EST, you write:

<<  Comes with a little history about nails, forged and cut, you'll find
 it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had my nail board for a
 few years. >>

Would you mind sharing a bit of that info?  It's my understanding "cut" nails
were one of the first things mass produced in the US.  They were cut with a
shear from flat stock & "headed" by a machine.  Is this correct?

NM

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 12:30:13 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: the price of nails....

In a message dated 98-12-11 15:54:26 EST, you write:

<< Think about the name 4 penny 6penny 8 penny...I
 have heard originals that they werename this due to the worth of a
 nail of that particular size >>

Correct, but as Iron Burner & others have pointed out, it was per hundred
instead of per pound.  Today's nails reflect the different sizes the origional
hand made nails had.  In other words, the bigger the nail, the more it cost.

NM

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 13:46:12 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: Rag Rugs (floor & bed)

In a message dated 98-12-11 12:08:17 EST, you write:

<<  tearing strips of cloth goods, braiding
 and then whipping the edges to form a coil?  >>

Though probably not a period method of making rag rugs, we had a lady in the
farming comunity where I grew up who wove rag rugs on a loom.  I can never
remember which is warp & which is weft, but the rags were torn into strips,
twisted tightly then used as the "thread" that went across the width -- weft??
Seems I remember her calling the lengthwise threads -- actualy about like kite
string, "warp".  Maybe I got that backwards 'cuz it was nearly 40 years ago
that I watched her make rugs.  I often wonder what became of her loom.  Dad &
I had many hours wrapped up in it's repairs like replacing the wires in the
part that packed the weft into position.  Curiosity got the best of me -- Mr
Webster's book of words sez I remembered right.  My Grandmother did the
brading & sewing into a coil, so we had both ways.

NM

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 13:46:08 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: Nails, Reuse, and Powder Horn

In a message dated 98-12-11 11:06:08 EST, you write:

<< Could someone please tell me a source where I can order the Dixie Gun Works
 catalog and the Amazon Dry Goods catalog?  Thank you.
  >>

I see others have sent the Dixie phone #, so I won't duplicate.  The wife
finaly found this one:

Amazon Dry Goods
2218 East 11th St.
Davenport, IA 52803
[phone]

General catalog $2, pattern catalog $5

Unfortunatley, no web address.  She did find the address on line at:

http://www.toreadors.com/costume/mailorder.html

NM

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 13:32:43 -0700
From: "Ron" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: tobacco...

Louis,

I bought some Bearberry (Kinnikinnick) and Mullien tea at a health food
store here. The mullien tea looks more like they used the flowers than the
leaves. Is this right or do I need to find a source for the leaves? Smells
like some stuff I used to smoke long ago. <G>

As for red willow bark, do you use the outer bark or inner or both?

Thanks
YMOS,
Ron Chamberlain

- ----------
> From: Sickler, Louis L <[e-mail]>
> To: '[e-mail]'
> Subject: RE: MtMan-List: Re: tobacco...
> Date: Wednesday, June 03, 1998 6:30 AM
>
> Gail,
>
>     Here in Denver, CO we have a store called Alfalfa's that carries a
> LOT of natural herbs. Most of what I use comes from there and is already
> fairly finely ground/crushed.
> This especially applies to the angelica, mullein and sumac berries (which
I
> didn't mention before, sorry). I couldn't tell angelica in the forest
from
> hemlock - a real BAD thing (not that they are similar, but you get my
> drift). It is just SAFER that way. I do gather my own red willow bark
from
> my favorite elk hunting beaver pond area and kinnickinnick from anywhere
> west of here that I happen to be hiking. These are EASY to identify and I
> feel OK using them.
>
> But, yes, all the ingredients are fine, small parts. The kinnickinnick
> berries are already pretty dry naturally, they're not like cherries or
> anything. I usually just hang a whole bunch of leaves and berries as they
> were gathered in my basement room for a while until all are dry.  Then
break
> up the leaves with my fingers while separating the berries. Like I said
> before, I try to remove the seeds from the berries as much as possible,
they
> are large compared with the berry material and don't taste especially
good.
>
> I guess you could say it smokes rather hot, but in a clay pipe tobacco
gets
> pretty warm too. I use a clay pipe that was excavated from a pipe
> manufacturing business in central Ohio. The pipe was from a trash area
that
> was dated to be in use before 1840, how lucky! I do not recall any
> references to mountain men rolling their own cigarettes out of
> kinnickinnick, etc. , but the references to clay pipes (and even white
men
> owning and using pipestone pipes) are numerous.
>
> As for the taste, it's hard to describe, but is very nice. Once you smell
> the odor of red willow bark wafting through the camp, you'll never forget
> it. It's sort of like the stuff left over from the manufacture of ropes,
> that we're not supposed to smoke - very distinctive. It is not harsh at
all
> and can be inhaled without irritation. I do not consider myself a smoker
&
> do not smoke this stuff a lot, but when I want the taste & odor of my
last
> camp out, I break out the old pipe.
>
> Hope this helps some.
>
> YMHOS,
> Red Coyote
>
> > ----------
> > From:     Gail Carbiener
> > Reply To:     [e-mail]
> > Sent:     Tuesday, June 2, 1998 14:18
> > To:     [e-mail]
> > Subject:     Re: MtMan-List: Re: tobacco...
> >
> > Louis:
> >     Do you crush the mixture to a fine small parts.. You probably dry
the
> > berries in the sun. Sounds like the mixture might smoke pretty hot. Can
> > you
> > describe the taste. I will need to look up the other two items,
angelica
> > root and mullein. Thanks for the info.
> > Gail
> > Living History MtMan
> > =================
> >
> >
>

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 15:07:03 -0700
From: "Barry Conner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: Tremont Nail Company

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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    charset="iso-8859-1"
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OK folks you asked for it; Nails in their crudest form date back to 3000 =
B.C., the Romans hand-forged them and they have been found in =
excavations and sunken ships from the eriod 500 A.D.
When our ancestors first stepped from the Mayflower onto that soil that =
that was to become Plymouth County, they discovered a soil which was =
essentially sandy and difficult to cultivate. As they plowed for their =
first crops, they noticed that the earth yielded small deposits of crude =
iron ore mixed with the ooze of the swampy regions. from this ore and =
with crude smelters, they separated the metal from the ore and began the =
fashioning of nails and tools similar to those they had left behind when =
they sailed into the unknown.
 Nailmaking in America during the Revolutionary period was confined to =
small shops where as amany as a thousand nails per day could be hand =
forged by skilled "nailers". After the Revolution, demand grew rapidly, =
farmers and their families would hand-make nails during the winter =
months to supplement their incomes. Demand further increased however, =
and supplies of hand-made nails were insufficent.
During the late 1700's the first cut nail making machines appeared, the =
first machine cut and "head" a nail in one operation was invented by =
Ezekiel Reed of Bridgewater, MA.
The original nail factory was built on the site of an old cotton mill =
(Parker Mills) which had been shelled and burned by the British in the =
War of 1812. With the advent of the cut nail making machines came the =
establishment of Parker Mills, nail company in 1819, by Isaac and Jared =
Pratt. This later became known as the Tremont Nail Company.
From PENNYWEIGHT to PENNY (a small "d" indicates penny) Originally the =
terms 8d and 10d were used to denote prices of nails per hundred count. =
However, due to the fluctuations of prices this significance was lost =
and the terms were retained to designate sizes. Example 2d =3D 1 inch, =
8d =3D 2 1/2 inch, 100d =3D  8 inch.
Still produced are , brads, fine finish, shingle, box, clout, common, =
slating, boat, common rosehead, hihdge, spikes, headless foundry, =
sheathing, firedoor clinch, floor, headless brads, chinch rosehead, =
wrought head, common siding and masonry, all sheet cut nails for those =
wanting the best available 17th century nails.=20
The main building in use today was constructed in 1848 on the site of =
the old fulling mill. Since 1819, Tremont Nail Company has endured =
through all the changes and hurried pace of modern industry. The same =
products are still being produced for customers who prefer the superior =
holding quality and durability of these time tested nails.
For a century and a half sheet cut nails has maintained a reputation for =
skilled nail cutting that has built America throughtout the test of =
time. Tremont Nail Company is America's oldest nail manufacturer.
Well folks now you have the story, write them for a "Nail Card" and the =
next project you can really nail it down.
__________________________________________________
In a message dated 98-12-11 21:39:56 EST, you write:

<<  Comes with a little history about nails, forged and cut, you'll find =
it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had my nail board for =
a few years. >>

Would you mind sharing a bit of that info?  It's my understanding "cut" =
nails were one of the first things mass produced in the US.  They were =
cut with a shear from flat stock & "headed" by a machine.  Is this =
correct?

NM =20



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<HEAD>

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http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5>O<FONT=20
size=3D2>K</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D2> </FONT>folks you asked for it; =
Nails in=20
their crudest form date back to 3000 B.C., the Romans hand-forged them =
and they=20
have been found in excavations and sunken ships from the eriod 500=20
A.D.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5>W<FONT=20
size=3D2>hen</FONT></FONT> our ancestors first stepped from the =
Mayflower onto=20
that soil that that was to become Plymouth County, they discovered a =
soil which=20
was essentially sandy and difficult to cultivate. As they plowed for =
their first=20
crops, they noticed that the earth yielded small deposits of crude iron =
ore=20
mixed with the ooze of the swampy regions. from this ore and with crude=20
smelters, they separated the metal from the ore and began the fashioning =
of=20
nails and tools similar to those they had left behind when they sailed =
into the=20
unknown.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2> <FONT =
size=3D5>N<FONT=20
size=3D2>ailmaking in America during the Revolutionary period was =
confined to=20
small shops where as amany as a thousand nails per day could be hand =
forged by=20
skilled "nailers". After the Revolution, demand grew rapidly, =
farmers=20
and their families would hand-make nails during the winter months to =
supplement=20
their incomes. Demand further increased however, and supplies of =
hand-made nails=20
were insufficent.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5>D</FONT>uring the late 1700's the first cut nail =
making=20
machines appeared, the first machine cut and "head" a nail in =
one=20
operation was invented by Ezekiel Reed of Bridgewater,=20
MA.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5>T</FONT>he original nail factory was built on =
the site of an=20
old cotton mill (Parker Mills) which had been shelled and burned by the =
British=20
in the War of 1812. With the advent of the cut nail making machines came =
the=20
establishment of Parker Mills, nail company in 1819, by Isaac and Jared =
Pratt.=20
This later became known as the Tremont Nail =
Company.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT =
color=3D#000000=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D5>F<FONT size=3D2>rom PENNYWEIGHT to =
PENNY (a small=20
"d" indicates penny) Originally the terms 8d and 10d were used =
to=20
denote prices of nails per hundred count. However, due to the =
fluctuations of=20
prices this significance was lost and the terms were retained to =
designate=20
sizes. Example 2d =3D 1 inch, 8d =3D 2 1/2 inch, 100d =3D  8=20
inch.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2></FONT></FONT><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D5>S<FONT =
size=3D2>till=20
produced are , brads, fine finish, shingle, box, clout, common, slating, =
boat,=20
common rosehead, hihdge, spikes, headless foundry, sheathing, firedoor =
clinch,=20
floor, headless brads, chinch rosehead, wrought head, common siding and =
masonry,=20
all sheet cut nails for those wanting the best available 17th century =
nails.=20
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5>T</FONT>he main building in use today was =
constructed in=20
1848 on the site of the old fulling mill. Since 1819, Tremont Nail =
Company has=20
endured through all the changes and hurried pace of modern industry. The =
same=20
products are still being produced for customers who prefer the superior =
holding=20
quality and durability of these time tested =
nails.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5>F</FONT>or a century and a half sheet cut nails =
has=20
maintained a reputation for skilled nail cutting that has built America=20
throughtout the test of time. Tremont Nail Company is America's oldest =
nail=20
manufacturer.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2><FONT size=3D5>W<FONT size=3D2>ell</FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D2> =
</FONT>folks=20
now you have the story, write them for a "Nail Card" and the =
next=20
project you can really nail it down.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>__________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D5><FONT=20
size=3D2>In a message dated 98-12-11 21:39:56 EST, you=20
write:<BR><BR><<  Comes with a little history about nails, =
forged and=20
cut, you'll find it very interesting, don't know a price as I have had =
my nail=20
board for a few years. >><BR><BR>Would you mind sharing a bit of =
that=20
info?  It's my understanding "cut" nails were one of the =
first=20
things mass produced in the US.  They were cut with a shear from =
flat stock=20
& "headed" by a machine.  Is this =
correct?<BR><BR>NM =20
<BR><BR></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 16:44:16 -0700
From: "Matt Richards" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re: tobacco...

Usually folks smoke the mullein leaves rather than the flowers. With red
willow bark (also known as Red Osier Dogwood, cornus species), you smoke the
inner bark. The easiest way to gather it is getting it when the sap is up,
then pealing the outer bark off seperately from the inner bark. Some folks
say that traditionally this inner bark was roasted prior to smoking. I've
never tried that, but will the next time.

Matt Richards
www.braintan.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 18:15:25 -0800
From: "JON P TOWNS" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Fabrics 2

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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Andrea:  Talk to Longtrail she can answer you questions if she hasn't
started on answering them and you can't get any better B tan then what sh=
e
sells.  I like the way you are going about teaching us.  Keep up the good
work my friend.  Later Jon T
Longtrail [e-mail]

- ----------
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: MtMan-List: Fabrics 2
Date: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 7:42 AM

Here is my second and final post on fabrics:

    For your first rectangle shirt, you may want to work with common fabrics
readily available today and at reasonable cost.  Among the choices are
bleached and unbleached muslin.  If you call around to your local fabric
stores you might be able to locate some muslin in 36 inch widths which
means
that you have the option of making your garment utilizing the selvages in
the
seams (no seam finishing necessary!).  Otherwise, muslin is commonly
available
in 45 inch and sometimes 60 inch widths.

    Possibly closest to original homespun in a modern-day fabric is Osnaburg
cloth which should be located along with the muslins at your fabric tradi=
ng
post.  Osnaburg is a coarse cotton cloth often made with part waste in it=
,
plain weave, medium to heavy in weight and resembling crash (are you stil=
l
with me?) "Crash" is a coarse fabric having a rough irregular surface
obtained
by weaving thick and uneven yarns.  Back to Osnaburg=97it is sometimes us=
ed
unbleached for cement, grain and comparable types of containers.=20
Personally,
I like the rural, pastoral look of Osnaburg but I prefer to not wear it
next
to my skin.

    It is important that you pre wash your yardage exactly as you intend to
launder your finished garment.  Your yardage will likely shrink pretty
extensively with the first few washings.  At least, run it through one
complete laundering cycle before cutting out and sewing your garment. It =
is
a
good idea to purchase some extra fabric to allow for pre wash shrinkage.

    I always purchase more fabric than I need for a project.  So if you want
too
much fabric I suggest you purchase at least 5 yards or more.  The fabrics
types we are discussing (above mention) can shrink a surprising amount in
the
length of the goods.

    Here is something I came across in my research and I thought you might b=
e
interested: "Nail" was an archaic unit of measure representing 1/16th of =
a
yard of fabric (2 and =BC inches).  It is the exact length of a metal nai=
l
used
in building=97equivalent to the present-day 7d nail?  The term "nail" was
commonly used as opposed to inches.  As I am thinking about it, nails wer=
e
hand forged by a blacksmith=97would that be correct?  Please let me know.
Thanks.

    I have a couple of questions I hope someone can answer:

If I wear, say a size 10, how many individual skins of braintan would be
required to make a vest, fringed jacket, and a dress (individually)?

Can someone please direct me to the best source of braintan?

What is the best means of cleaning braintan leather without ruining the
texture?

Is braintan purchased by the individual skin or other?

    Next time I will show you how to draft your own shirt pattern.  Bye for
now.

Andrea Moore, Sewing Designer   Sewing Design Company
[e-mail]

=09


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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html><head></head><BODY bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><p><font size=3D2 =
color=3D"#000000" face=3D"Arial">Andrea:  Talk to Longtrail she can =
answer you questions if she hasn't started on answering them and you =
can't get any better B tan then what she sells.  I like the way you =
are going about teaching us.  Keep up the good work my friend. =
 Later Jon T<br>Longtrail =
[e-mail]<br><br>----------<br>From: <font =
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</u><font =
color=3D"#000000"><br>To: <font =
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</u><font =
color=3D"#000000"><br>Subject: MtMan-List: Fabrics 2<br>Date: Wednesday, =
December 09, 1998 7:42 AM<br><br>Here is my second and final post on =
fabrics:<br><br>	For your first rectangle shirt, you may want to =
work with common fabrics<br>readily available today and at reasonable =
cost.  Among the choices are<br>bleached and unbleached muslin. =
 If you call around to your local fabric<br>stores you might be =
able to locate some muslin in 36 inch widths which means<br>that you =
have the option of making your garment utilizing the selvages in =
the<br>seams (no seam finishing necessary!).  Otherwise, muslin is =
commonly available<br>in 45 inch and sometimes 60 inch =
widths.<br><br>	Possibly closest to original homespun in a =
modern-day fabric is Osnaburg<br>cloth which should be located along =
with the muslins at your fabric trading<br>post.  Osnaburg is a =
coarse cotton cloth often made with part waste in it,<br>plain weave, =
medium to heavy in weight and resembling crash (are you still<br>with =
me?) "Crash" is a coarse fabric having a rough irregular =
surface obtained<br>by weaving thick and uneven yarns.  Back to =
Osnaburg=97it is sometimes used<br>unbleached for cement, grain and =
comparable types of containers.  Personally,<br>I like the rural, =
pastoral look of Osnaburg but I prefer to not wear it next<br>to my =
skin.<br><br>	It is important that you pre wash your yardage =
exactly as you intend to<br>launder your finished garment.  Your =
yardage will likely shrink pretty<br>extensively with the first few =
washings.  At least, run it through one<br>complete laundering =
cycle before cutting out and sewing your garment. It is a<br>good idea =
to purchase some extra fabric to allow for pre wash =
shrinkage.<br><br>	I always purchase more fabric than I need for a =
project.  So if you want too<br>much fabric I suggest you purchase =
at least 5 yards or more.  The fabrics<br>types we are discussing =
(above mention) can shrink a surprising amount in the<br>length of the =
goods.<br><br>	Here is something I came across in my research and I =
thought you might be<br>interested: "Nail" was an archaic unit =
of measure representing 1/16th of a<br>yard of fabric (2 and =BC =
inches).  It is the exact length of a metal nail used<br>in =
building=97equivalent to the present-day 7d nail?  The term =
"nail" was<br>commonly used as opposed to inches.  As I =
am thinking about it, nails were<br>hand forged by a blacksmith=97would =
that be correct?  Please let me know.<br>Thanks.<br><br>	I =
have a couple of questions I hope someone can answer:<br><br>If I wear, =
say a size 10, how many individual skins of braintan would =
be<br>required to make a vest, fringed jacket, and a dress =
(individually)?<br><br>Can someone please direct me to the best source =
of braintan?<br><br>What is the best means of cleaning braintan leather =
without ruining the<br>texture?<br><br>Is braintan purchased by the =
individual skin or other?<br><br>	Next time I will show you how to =
draft your own shirt pattern.  Bye for now.<br><br>Andrea Moore, =
Sewing Designer   Sewing Design Company<br><font =
color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</u><font =
color=3D"#000000"><br><br>	<br><br><br>----------<br><br></p>
</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></body></html>
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End of hist_text-digest V1 #189
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