Interesting Facts About Commonly Used Home Improvement Items
Ok, I am venturing into uncharted territory for this column. An avid reader requested to read about the origins of commonly used home improvement items, and then proceeded to tell me about what he knew about nails. I then decided to run with this topic, and research just a few of the items we sell, and how they came about.
The Nail
Nails date back as far as the Ancient Roman period. Until the 1800's, nails were constructed by a person known as a Nailer, and they fabricated nails of all shapes and sizes. Now, nails are manufactured by machines, with the machines cutting strips of metal into desired lengths, and then forming the heads and sharp tips by heating up the ends and placing them into a mold. How nails are classified has an interesting history itself. Let's say someone asks for a 16 penny nail. On the box, it is written "16 d" followed by the length. In written form, the "d" stands for penny, which is derived from the Roman word denarius, which means penny. The larger the number in front, the larger the nail is in girth. As you may have guessed, a 16 d nail is a pretty big nail. Nails in England were sold by the hundred, and the cost was the number before the d. In other words, 16 d nails would cost you 16 pence (pennies) if you were buying them in 17th century England.
The Screw
As you may already suspect, there are countless kinds of screws, bolts, and anchors available for and endless number of projects. Wikipedia does not make a distinction between a screw, bolt, or anchor, and for the purpose of this bit of information, I won't either. The screw originated in Babylon in the 7th century BC, and was used to fasten together their aqua ducts. In the 1st century, the Romans used wooden screws to hold their ships together. It wasn't until the 19th century that metal screws started to become more common, via the invention of the lathe (which makes the screw threads). Now, screws are available in just about any material, length, and used to hold together just about any object.
The Hammer
The hammer is the oldest undisputed tool that man has used. Its origins go back 2.4 million BC, literally to the stone age! Archaeologists have found all types of hammers, from ones made of bone, to a stone head and wooden shaft tied together, and many other variations. When ancient man figured out he needed tools to make what he wanted, the hammer was the first thing that man invented that is effective. Today, the hammer has limitless uses that range from driving in nails, forcing objects into place, tearing things apart, and many other uses.
The Screwdriver
Originally called a "screwturner," it was invented in the late 15th century by the Germans. It was originally intended for slotted screws and had a pear-shaped handle. The shaft was metal, and the handle was made of wood. As the screw advanced, so did the screwdriver. What we now know as the modern day screwdriver did not fully develop until the late 19th century. Now, in addition to all the individual screwdrivers you can get, you can get a screwdriver with all the bits contained in it (often called a 6 in 1, 8 in 1, and so on), one that resists electrical shock (used by electricians), and even an electric screwdriver, so you don't have to twist your hand. My, how technology advances!
I may not have taught you how to build something, but I would be willing to bet that you learned something today! As you may have guessed, we have all of these items and many, many more in stock! Come in today and see how we can help you solve your home improvement and farm needs!
