Comments on: Fastenings

By: Len Paterson

Len Paterson — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:30:51 +0000

Friend of JG, ( members together at LESC in His ’15′ days) , metallurgist and Trustee of Scottish Maritime Museum.
Muntz metal is a brass ( Copper/zinc) but the zinc would not be in a ‘free’ form which would ‘leech’ – except perhaps from the surface. Brass, being relatively soft, was used for deck fittings rather than construction in the 1890s. Bronze ( Copper/tin) is a bit ‘harder’ but more brittle – hence the ease with which you snapped a nail? Copper is of course softer than either alloy. Get the nails tested for composition?
Contact me, if you like, with detailed queries.

By: charlie

charlie — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:26:33 +0000

Mike. Thanks for the suggestion. It looks feasible that the boat nails used in Katydid were made of Muntz metal. Not sure how you positively identify an alloy once an element (zinc) has presumably leached away… Will update you if I get any further with this matter.

By: Michael Gill

Michael Gill — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:18:10 +0000

Charlie,

Michael here, was reading through your website and thought I might be able to help or possibly miss guide on the origin of this square nail. I have a book called “Ships Fastenings” by Michael McCarthy, It is USA published. It has a few pages about a material called “Muntz metal” produced in England from around 1830′s onward, its an early form of brass. A bit about this chaps history can be found on wikipedia.

Good luck with the restoration.

Regards

Michael Gill (ex BBA student to avoid possible confusion)