The story does not seem quite right to me.
Chained libraries are typically early ones, whereas nail rods (and rod
iron) were not something that could be easily produced until the
introduction of the slitting mill. The first slitting mill was built at
Dartford in Britain in 1590, probably followed shortly after by one at m.
One was built on Cannock Chase by 1612 and Hyde Mill in Kinver in 1627,
followed by a number of others in the same region in the 1630s and
succeeding decades. It is not wholly clear how nails were produced before
that but there was a trade of slitter, who probably cut up bars of iron
using a cold chisel, not an easy process.
At a the wire mill sold defective rods to nail makers at Bristol in the
1590s. This rods seem to have been made using straining hammers, probably
water-powered ones.
Peter King
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Hutchison <[log in to unmask]>
To: Arch-metals <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 06 October 2000 19:32
Subject: Book chains
>
>
> Pleaase excuse me for another strange query that isn't really
> archaeometalurgy.
>
> I have had an interesting (to me) query from a Mr. Tandy about chained
> books. Again I don't know whether he found me as the rep. of HMS. He has
> found a chained library (which he is restoring) with knotted chains
holding
> the books. I think these are like the chains we sometimes use for dogs
etc.
> made from twisted wire. He is sending me a picture but doesn't know how
to
> send it in an e-mail. Most book chains are made from from his description
> (over the 'phone) slit iron nail rod welded into links. This would seem
to
> be
> an acceptable way of making small cheap (rough!) chain. He cannot find
any
> record of knotted chain before 1790. Does anyone know of anything
earlier?
> It is possible that the books were re-chained in the 19th century.
>
> Of course if it was late in the 19th century it may be that this is steel
> wire. I have suggested that a micro. might help to sort this out.
>
> Peter
>
> Peter Hutchison
> [log in to unmask]
>
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