Muntzs Patent Birmingham stamp on Ships fastener

[Whittman]

Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Thanks for your help.

 

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[Whittman]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Some pics...

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Muntz Metal Co., Elliot Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, started c1829 as G F Muntz of Water Street, Birmingham, then French Walls Works, Alma Street, Smethwick, Staffordshire. George Muntz's 1832 patent for 60/40 brass ship sheathing sheet was the basis of the firm's success. The alloy is excellent for casting and can be hot rolled to a relatively thin gauge. With a high content of zinc, it is cheaper than pure copper. It is still specified for the restoration of the 1869 'Cutty Sark' tea clipper in London. The company was taken over by ICI Metals Division (IMI). Company papers from 1863-1928 are lodged with Birmingham Central Library covering their business also making copper and brass tube.
Source: http://www.oldcopper.org/marks me-mz.htm

 

[Consolación Diver]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Hi,

Maybe try to track down the biography of George Frederick Muntz written by C. Carlos Flick (1975): Muntz Metal and Ships' Bottoms,The industrial career of G.F. Muntz (1794-1857)

I would think his biography would have information about the company and where the sheathing, bolts, and fasteners they produced were shipped to and for how many years they were used.

I was looking through a book called Ship's Fastenings written by Michael Mccarthy. It doesn't say much other than Muntz's discovery of a copper and zinc alloy (Muntz metal, 60% copper and 40% zinc) was designed for creating a better sheathing, but that he took out a patent for bolts and fasteners made of the same material in 1832.

Good luck

 

[Unicorn]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Birmingham City (my home Town) was once known as the City of a thousand industries. Surrounding the City on the one side, is called The Black Country, named of course by the smoke and dirt that came from the chimneys from these industries. All this is changed of course since the "clean air bill" came into effect. B.S.A. and Dunlop are but two of these former industries. Most all of the factories produced arms during World War 11, thus making it a City that was much bombed, together with Coventry an adjoining City. There is also a Muntz Street in Birmingham, named after your above post....... just a little piece I thought you might like to know.

 

[pcolaboy]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

That large piece that you have is what I believe is called a drift pin used to connect the framing to the deck joists. I have one of those that I found in an old ship yard trash pile. Good luck on identifying your wreck.

Pcola

 

[Whittman]

Re: Muntz's Patent Birmingham stamp on Ship's fastener

Thanks for your help.