Old Numbered Nail?

[ScubaGold]

Any ideas about this nail and what the number means?

 

[GaRebel1861]

I could be wrong, but the only other ones that I've seen were power company related. Maybe the year the pole was set?

 

[DigginThePast]

Yup, Date Nail. Had several applications.

A bunch of info here:
http://pages.uindy.edu/~oaks/DateNailInfo.htm

 

[jeff of pa]

I'm going with 1929 Railroad Date Nail

 

[doublet2a]

I'm going with 1929 Railroad Date Nail

]



Tim

 

[AGBlex]

i learn something every day on this site

 

[ScubaGold]

Thanks, Guys. I appreciate the info.

 

[TypicalClinger]

I have a small collection of Date nails pulled from old and abandoned power poles. They look very similar to railroad nails except all of them are square. The head is squared and the shaft is square also. Just a note for future reference.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Railroad tie date nail. I was working in a feed lot one summer, and building new pens using ties. Pulled out several dozen 18 to 29 date nails from them. After I left home, my mother threw them out with my baseball cards, and marbles. I have a date nail in the telephone post in the corner of my yard. Way different but also way newer.

 

[walhooey]

Definitely a railroad date nail >I was a switchman and conductor for the Southern Pacific RR for 40 years and I have seen hundreds of these. Also occasionally found in brass.

 

[kenley]

HPD I feel for ya. I had all my golden books, comic books, and a collection of John Deere cast tractors with implements. My sister threw them out while I was in the Marine Corps. She said she was sure I didn't want that old stuff. I had the politically incorrect Golden books: Lil Black Sambo, Brer Rabbit etc. My comic books showed all Japs as yellow with buck teeth/coke bottle glasses.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Green check please ScubaGold on the RR date nail unless you have any more questions.
What is that coin top left?

Here are some links. http://pages.uindy.edu/~oaks/DateNailInfo.htm

http://fantasticprices.com/DateNail/Railroad.htm

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I have a small collection of Date nails pulled from old and abandoned power poles. They look very similar to railroad nails except all of them are square. The head is squared and the shaft is square also. Just a note for future reference.

The square nails were also used by the railroads, I have a bunch of early 1900's square date nails from the old Big Four Railroad tracks near where I grew up. They seem to have been pretty much interchangeable between poles and ties. Also there are some that were made of copper and are about the size of a modern roofing nail. They're always a fun find for me.

 

[Havilah_Springs]

Absolutely a date nail, most likely Rail Road as the numbers are raised. The power poles I've seen are embossed.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Green check please.