Object number
54/508
Description
This is a heading tool, a blacksmithing tool used for shaping the heads of nails. It was used by a wheelwright in Braishfield, Hampshire. It has two perforated knobs, one at either end, perforated to the size of the nail shank, and countersunk to correspond with the head. The nail hole is circular in shape.
Physical description
1 heading tool: metal
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘Nails were in the past forged by hand from rods of wrought iron. The nailer's apparatus consisted of a small forge for heating the iron, an anvil, a hammer and some other small tools. The end of a piece of nail rod was placed in the forge and heated. The rod was then tapered on the anvil with a hammer and it was then placed on the cutting chisel or 'hardy' fixed in the tool hole at the back of the anvil. The next operation was to place the nail heading tool or 'bore', the small diameter upwards, on the anvil orifice, or anvil edge. The red hot nail was inserted into the tool with the head pointing downwards. The projecting metal was then hammered to the form of a nail head. The tool was then turned upside down, and the finished nail tapped out. // Although wrought nails were generally made either in the home or in nailmaker's shops, mainly in the Midlands, the majority of country blacksmiths could also make them, and this particular tool was used by a village wheelwright, Mr H.J.Bown, of Laurel Cottage, Braishfield Hampshire. In the Midlands women were generally employed as nailmakers. // The nail heading tool consists of a bar of flattened iron, finished at each end with a knob. This knob was perforated to the size of the nail shank, and countersunk so as to correspond with the head. // The tool which measures 9 inches long has two nail holes, the one rectuangular in shape the other square with a rounded head.'
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