Colonial Iron

[JoshW]

I found these iron pieces in a field on the Brandywine battlefield. In the same field, I found a jews harp, lead pencil, several musket balls and buttons as well, so I suspect it was a campsite. The British camped on the battlefield for several days after the battle. Any idea what these are? The one with the large hole has a curly cue shape at the end. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Josh

 

[DCMatt]

The curved piece with the square hole looks like a coffee mill crank.

 

[DCMatt]

The curly cue piece may be part of a 'tommy stick' - colonial era candle holder.

 

[releventchair]

Curled piece could be a hook for a wagon singletree.

 

[JoshW]

Thanks for the replies! The coffee mill crank sure looks close and the tommy stick and singletree hooks are possibilities. Seeing the picture of the Tommy stick, definitely solves a mystery for another piece I dug in the same area. That piece looks just like the one of the left.

 

[pa plateau hiker]

I'm going with single tree hook. It looks heavy enough to attach a small chain to.

 

[A2coins]

Great id's kills me how people can do that lol

 

[creskol]

Any idea what these are?... The one with the large hole has a curly cue shape at the end....
Josh

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/w...abandoned-wagon-trail-help-possible-date.html

 

[Tony in SC]

The curved piece is a heel. It was bolted down a chain was placed on the heel then it was hammered down.

 

[JoshW]

Thanks guys! The heel bolt certainly looks like a match. Any ideas one the rectangular piece? I was thinking some kind of weight or maybe a striker for flint. I know most strikers aren't shaped like that though.

Josh

 

[Gambrinus]

The curled item with a hole might be a single rams horn nut. The text that was with photo is here.

Wrought iron, unlike modern steels, has a grain, much like wood. This large forged nut shows the grain. In forging wrought iron, operations would have to be done in consideration of this. Holes punched near the end of a bar would be liable to break out. If the bar is spread first, forming a cusp, a hole punched on the cusp would be less likely to exceed its boundaries. Many decorative elements in traditional ironwork also serve a functional purpose.

The link to the site is here. Blacksmith's Blog Posts

 

[JoshW]

Thanks Gambrinus!