Old Carriage Bolts

[JClearwater]

So work continues on my Brodbeck. The seats and thwarts were attached to the inwales with steel/iron carriage bolts. The heads on these old bolts is not like modern dome head carriage bolts. The heads are more cone shaped. They didn't rust away to that shape, all twelve are cone shaped. The square shoulder under the head is fairly normal, just the heads are odd. See attached photo. I am curious if anyone knows how old these bolts are. I know nothing about the history or fasteners. At this point those of us who have been talking about this canoe, build features etc. and knowing the approximate start date of Brodbeck's canoe work we can date this canoe from between 1897 and 1900, more or less. I'm wondering if the bolts also date from that period. Thanks.

Jim

 

[Benson Gray]

I am curious if anyone knows how old these bolts are.

These may be shown on page 218 of the Biddle Hardware catalog at https://archive.org/details/BiddleHardwareCoCatalog1910/page/n269/mode/2up from 1910 with a list date of 1899. They were probably made by the Lamson & Sessions Company which was also known for their screw-adjusting monkey wrenches. The links at http://alloy-artifacts.org/lamson-sessions-company.html and https://case.edu/ech/articles/l/lamson-and-sessions-co have more details about the company. Your bolts could date from the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Benson

 

[patrick corry]

I’m impressed Benson!

 

[JClearwater]

I'm very impressed! Give that man a raise! Thanks very much.