A nice pile of colonial iron ......

[Bill D. (VA)]

Some random stuff found over the years at pre-1800 sites. Click to enlarge.

 

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[Jeff H]

Very nice ! One of these days (been saying that for years) I will start cleaning and preserving my pile of colonial iron. Just need to upsize my electrolysis system. Your collection is inspiring.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Bill
Great photo shot ...i`d put that in a big frame and glass...hang it on my wall man i love it !
The bottom of that three legged bean pot sets if off good.
Is that why i live alone ?
Gary

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Bill
Great photo shot ...i`d put that in a big frame and glass...hang it on my wall man i love it !
The bottom of that three legged bean pot sets if off good.
Is that why i live alone ?
Gary

Thanks Gary. That pic will be one of several hundred going in my book to be published next year.

 

[villagenut]

I really like it, and would make a nice wall poster...or a centerfold in your book..sounds like a very good book too

 

[DownNDirty]

Very nice cross-section of iron tools, implements and "other stuff." Is that a cannonball?

 

[Patriot Relics]

Nice collection of colonial iron Bill, props for taking on so much electrolysis- looks outstanding!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Very nice cross-section of iron tools, implements and "other stuff." Is that a cannonball?

Yep, that's what it is. It was found within the footprint of a 1640s site which was rather strange.

 

[Scrappy]

Wonderful iron Bill. It was your collection that got me interested in keeping and preserving iron.

Question: is there any method to narrow a date range on items such as the hoes?

 

[sutphin]

THATS WHAT I CALL SOME SERIOUS IRON. KETTLE PARTS ARE NEET.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Wonderful iron Bill. It was your collection that got me interested in keeping and preserving iron.

Question: is there any method to narrow a date range on items such as the hoes?

Steve - yes, there are several design attributes to help date hoes which will be discussed in my book. But basically the style of hoe can help with general dating as the narrow (or grubbing hoes) tend to be 17th to early 18th century, and the broad hoes are found mostly on 18th century sites. Also, earlier hoes dating back to the 1600s often have open, V-shaped cutouts in the front of their collars and longer necks while pronounced spines and closed collars are commonly featured on 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century examples. There's an excellent publication entitled "Colonial Plantation Hoes of Tidewater Virginia" by Keith Egloff that can be purchased for about $10 that will tell you everything you need to know about hoes, and is a great addition to an colonial enthusiast's reference library.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice display of preserved relics, thank you for sharing.

I guess going through my pile of colonial iron; could prove exciting.

 

[Tnmountains]

Did you use wax after electrolysis? Great preservation.

 

[relicmeister]

your preservation method is excellent, Bill. After removing rust I am submerging my irons in boiling parrafin until no mor bubbling is seen. Keep us posted on
publishing date - looking forward to it

 

[Ahab8]

Fantastic group of iron relics. It's amazing how few of us enjoy it

 

[Scrappy]

Steve - yes, there are several design attributes to help date hoes which will be discussed in my book. But basically the style of hoe can help with general dating as the narrow (or grubbing hoes) tend to be 17th to early 18th century, and the broad hoes are found mostly on 18th century sites. Also, earlier hoes dating back to the 1600s often have open, V-shaped cutouts in the front of their collars and longer necks while pronounced spines and closed collars are commonly featured on 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century examples. There's an excellent publication entitled "Colonial Plantation Hoes of Tidewater Virginia" by Keith Egloff that can be purchased for about $10 that will tell you everything you need to know about hoes, and is a great addition to an colonial enthusiast's reference library.

Thanks for the info Bill. I will keep that in my memory. Thanks to you and many others, this priceless knowledge is a great resource to have in the field. I believe field ID's are extremely important. Knowing what something is without google and right in the field (and sometimes in a hole) helps us know how to treat an object (i.e. Is it a piece of scrap iron or a 17th century hoe).

Many thanks Bill