In the 18th century in England nails were normally made by nailers in their
own homes or in a nailshop at the back. I know of a couple of places where
there was a row of nailers cottages at a slitting mill, but the trade was
normally carried on by outworkers working for an ironmonger.
Some one else suggested 'forge': I consider it best to reserve this term
for water-powered works. I have never come across 'smithery' in England,
but 'smithy' is used today for a blacksmith's shop. However nailing was a
specialised trade and a distinct one from blacksmiths, and also from
locksmiths, scythesmiths, and cutlers. At Sheffield there were
distinctions among cutlers, some being razorsmiths, forksmiths etc.
Before the introduction of the blast furnace there were water-powered
bloomery forges. The contemporary vernacular name for these seems to have
been 'smithies', also bloomsmithies, or forges.
Peter King.
----- Original Message -----
From: J. H. Brothers <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 29 July 2000 22:45
Subject: Nails
> What is the correct historic term for an 18C facility that manufactures
nails?
>
> Thanks
> JH Brothers IV
>
>
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