Association (Wire Nail Machinery Manufacturer)

So lately as 1888 The American Architect began an article on nails in this way : "The nails commonly used in connection with building operations ar too well known to require any description. They are specifically designed as plate nails." That year specifically designated as plate nails. That year 1888, was almost the first in which plate or cut nails felt a real competition from wire nails. In that year the latter formed less than a fifth of the total product; in 1895 they constituted nearly three fourths. The idea of making nails of wire did not arise in America ; in fact, our people were even somewhat slow to adopt it.

The first wire nails - headed by hand and ground to a point - appear to have been made in France early in this century, Mr. M. Baackes, an old wire - nail manufacturer of Cleveland, says that hate first machine for forming the heads was made in France about 1850 According to Mr. John Hassall, who is still engaged in making wire - nail machinery in New York city, his father was active in making and running the first wire nail machines used in this country, early in the fifties. The business seems to have extended itself only modestly, for Mr. Baackes regards the factory which he helped to start at Covington, Ky. in 1875, as "the first mill for the manufacture of wire nails on this side of the Atlantic." The production rose form 20,000 kegs in 1880, according to Mrs. Baackes's estimate, to 125,000 in 1887; and the average price fell from $20.00 per keg in 1875 and $10.00 in 1880 to $4.81 in 1887. At the end of 1887 a manufacturer wrote: "Wire nails are now quoted at less than actual cost, as results will in time demonstrate.