6/28/22 Report - Dug Bronze Spikes and Ship's Pins. Wood Hull Structures. Tropical Activity.

 

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Above are a broken bronze spike and bronze pin that I dug on the Treasure Coast.  I haven't dug many bronze connectors, and as you can see, these two are broken.

The McCarthy book on Ship's Fastenings states that mixed metal fastenings had good holding power and were resistant to oxidation but were found to be brittle.  As a result, for much time, they were used primarily when there wasn't much choice ( p. 104).  They were used, for example, on the American frigate Essex when there was a British embargo on strategic materials.

The end of the spike shown above, on the more narrow end (right), spreads out  considraby .  It is possible that it was cut off at the wood surface and hammered out, as was often done with spikes and pins.  Any thoughts or ideas on that would be appreciated. 

In the past I took the spread end to be the head of the spike, but after reading the McCarthy book and learning how commonly connectors were either clinched or hammered out to increase the hold, I don't think so.  I think it was more likely cut and hammered after inserted.  There appears to be some taper to the spike and the more spread end does appear to me to be at the narrower end of the spike.

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Orthogonal view of the structure of the
stern and starboard quarter of Sutherland's ship.
Source: See cnrs-scrn.org link below.

The large spike I showed yesterday would probably be a hull fastening, as opposed to "ship joinery," which are smaller connectors that would not affect the strength of the hull.  

The illustration above is from THE STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH WOODEN SHIPS: WILLIAM SUTHERLAND'S SHIP, CIRCA 1710, by Trevor Kenchington.  

And here is the link.  tnm_3_1_1-43.pdf (cnrs-scrn.org)

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Scott B. who found the pulley sent his thanks for the information.  When you provide information, like John L did on Scott's pulley, you help and enrich others with your knowledge. 

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It seems the methods of avoiding Covid recommended by Dr. Fauci either didn't work or he didn't take his own advice.  The New York Post reports that he tested positive for Covid.  

Dr. Anthony Fauci tests positive for COVID-19 (nypost.com)

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Looks like the red one will stay well south of us.  The yellow one down there will come closer, but unless it takes a more northerly turn, won't affect us much.  That is how it looks now anyhow.

MagicSeaWeed is only predicting two or three feet of surf for the Treasure Coast this week.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net