This Tool was forgot to be deſcribed in Joinery, though they uſe Hammers too, and therefore I bring it in here. Its chief Uſe is for driving Nails into Work, and drawing Nails out of Work.
There is required a pretty skill in driving a Nail; for if (when you ſet the point of a Nail) you be not curious in obſerving to ſtrike the flat face of the Hammer perpendicularly down upon the perpendicular of the Shank, the Nail (unleſs it have good entrance) will ſtart aſide, or bow, or break; and then you will be forced to draw it out again with the Claw of the Hammer. Therefore you may ſee a reaſon when you buy a Hammer, to chuſe one with a true flat Face.
A little trick is ſometimes uſed among ſome (that would be thought cunning Carpenters) privately to touch the Head of the Nail with a little Ear-wax, and then lay a Wager with a Stranger to the Trick, that he ſhall not drive that Nail up to the Head with ſo many blows.
The ſtranger thinks he ſhall aſſuredly win, but does aſſuredly loſe; for the Hammer no ſooner touches the Head of the Nail, but inſtead of entring the Wood it flies away, notwithſtanding his utmoſt care in ſtriking it down-right.
Joseph Moxon
Mechanick Exercises: Or, The Doctrine of Handy-Works – 1683
—Jeff Burks
wow! nice box. What’s the story there? can i own it someday?
It belongs to a maritime museum in The Netherlands. The history of the chest is unknown.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fries_Scheepvaart_Museum
Yes, any links to more info on the style of box? I saw one last week with a very similar lock at a local junk shop. It’s lid was attached with wooden pegs instead of nails. I’m wondering if this one is the same.
Who knew Moxon was such a prankster?
If you looked like this:
http://wp.me/a19928-ss
You might want to have a sense of humor to get the girls.
…Or be the guy who sings ‘Stairway to Heaven.’
Or for those too
busy to read the text
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