A fairly large brass.. I think nail? Found on the shore of Nova Scotia

[Rean.c]

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[AugustMoose87]

I am DEFINATELY not an expect on this, but it looks like a spike used in shipbuilding

 

[Rean.c]

Most likely I think, but would it be an expensive material for boats back then?


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[EasternShoreMetal]

I tend to agree, but I suspect it may be mostly or all copper.. used ext. in shipbuilding.

 

[BosnMate]

Most likely I think, but would it be an expensive material for boats back then?


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Yes, expensive, but iron nails would rust away, and that could end up a lot more expensive when the ship sunk. They also used copper bottoms on those old wooden ships. The copper kept the barnacles off the ships bottom, there by increasing the ships speed in the water, and did away with the need of scrapping the bottom periodically.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Rean.c wrote:
> Most likely I think, but would it be an expensive material for boats back then?

Although copper and brass are 20 times more expensive than iron/steel, you absolutely HAD to use copper or brass "fittings" (nails, spikes, bolts, etc) for the hull of a boat/ship which operated in saltwater, because the salt would quickly corrode iron. That is why docks/wharves at saltwater locations also tended to have copper or brass fittings.

After-posting edit note:
BosnMate and I were typing our replies at the same time, but I got interrupted by a phonecall, so I didn't see his post until after I finally managed to click "Send" on mine. He and I are basically making the same point about copper/brass nails and spikes, just using different wording.

 

[Dagger Woods]

Yep, a shipbuilding spike.... also besides the rusting issue, a brass spike won't cause a spark (so I've read) which is a good quality to have when you have lots of black powder hanging around. I've found these while diving but I've never seen one just laying on the shore. I'm curious as to which part of NS this was found in... I have a few likely locations in mind but it could have been practically anywhere.

 

[coinman123]

Ship spike, iron would rust away with a shorter lifespan than copper, notice how the spike is somewhat usable after so many years underground, whereas if the spike was iron it would probably almost crumble in your hands.



Coinman123,

 

[Rean.c]

Yea it's in great shape actually and dagger wood I don't usually tell people exactly where my finds are but I found that spike Florence


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[Rean.c]

Thank you all for your help, I know for sure what it is now. I've found another weird piece of brass along with it.

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[yaxthri]

The 2nd folded itme looks very interesting... Can you post more pics of it? Backside? Sideview, or is it completely flat?

 

[Rean.c]

Yes here are some better angles. And it's a very interesting piece no idea what the heck it is personally.

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[yaxthri]

Now what the hell is that thing
This has got me scratching my head...
Maritime?

 

[Rean.c]

Yup off the coast line


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[Rean.c]

There was a good amount of led there as well


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[Tony in SC]

The top one looks like a hinge from a toilet seat the second could be a cabin door latch. Tony

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your "folded" brass-parts assembly looks like it could be some of the finger-keys from a brass woodwind horn type of musical instrument, such as a tuba or saxophone or one of the other varieties which have finger-keypads. See the photos below. I suggest you show it to the Marching Band Director at a high-school to see if he/she could tell you what specific type of musical horn/woodwind instrument it is from. I should mention, your find's form/construction looks very antique, possibly more than 100 years old, which could make it difficult for a "modern" musical-instruments user to specifically identify.

 

[yaxthri]

Well, when I saw only the first pic of the folded find I gave this thought of a wind instrument key a chance but the next pictures blew that away. This thing has two "arms" that come out from a frame that, judging by the fitting holes was attached to something that rotted or rusted away. So a latch is a good proposition.
It looks like the "arms" were bent (before the thing was completely bent) at one point outwards one from another at a 90 degree angle and maybe they were joint at the point that now has a remaining stud or protrusion. And they look soldered together at the end point that was hidden inside the frame, out of sight I guess, because the soldering is very poor...

 

[Dagger Woods]

Yea it's in great shape actually and dagger wood I don't usually tell people exactly where my finds are but I found that spike Florence


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Hi, thanks for that. I didn't expect you to give out the precise location, just the general area, exactly like you did. I suspected it might be up that way, or Hfx or Eastern Shore area... but like I said, you could mention just about any stretch of NS coast and it would be believable.

Those are some very neat doodads... big brass is always a cool find. If they're all coming from the same approx spot, you're likely on/near a wreck (am I stating the obvious? *L*)... regardless, congrats on the finds and good luck for finding more!

 

[Rean.c]

Mmm... All very good observations, I think now it may be a latch of some sort.. And I actually found it in new water Fort not that it makes any difference.


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