Year: 1886

page_text: I JOSEPH NICHOLS, of Cheapside Wire Works, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Wireworker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to make a nail that may be driven into a piece of
wood without splitting it, and at the same time retain its hold securely in the
wood, when driven home, so that it cannot be easily withdrawn.
For this purpose I make the said nail out of twisted wire or other suitable metal
of equal thickness from the commencement of head to the commencement of the
point which facilitates the driving & renders it less liable to split the wood, as
when once pierced the hole in the wood remains the same size throughout.
The nail being made out of twisted metal, square, or of other suitable shape in
section, forms a kind of screw, which prevents the nail from getting loose, the
screwed part is twisted to a suitable pitch to cause the nail to turn round as it is
being driven.
Thus it will be perceived that the nail requires no boring with bradawl or other
like tool to prevent the wood from splitting, that it is driven into the wood by the
ordinary hammer, & turns round as it is being driven home, which secures the
two pieces of wood together in a similar manner to a screw, also that it is stronger
and more durable, & requires less metal to produce it than is required for making
the ordinary nail.

page_text: Improvements in Nails.
I JOSEPH NICHOLS of Cheapside Wire Works Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Wireworker do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is improvements in nails that may be driven into
wood without splitting it and at the same time retain its hold so that it cannot be
easily withdrawn and in most if not all cases it may be so driven without any hole
being previously made therefor thus saving time and labour in using the nail but
besides these advantages nails so made are stiffer with less metal and hold firmer
than ordinary nails.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which several
examples of such nails are shewn both as made from several sections of metal and
also as applied to practical use but it must not be supposed that the several sections
or examples shewn exhaust the possible variations of forms or sections which may be
used in their manufacture for this is not so as such nails may be made from a great
variety of sections.
Figures 1, 2. 3 and 4 show four different sections of iron with an elevation of a
nail made from each of the said four sections.
Figure 5 shows one of these nails driven through the side of one piece of timber
into the side of another piece.
Figure 6 shows a nail driven through the side of one piece of timber into the
end of another piece.
Figure 7 shews the toe of a boot with the soles nailed to each other by my
new nails.
In the case of Figure 1 the section of iron used is triangular and this metal when
twisted produces a nail with three edges, veins or screw threads running spirally
around the same. Figure 4 is square in section and therefor the nail would have
four distinct spiral projections or veins. Figure 3 is an oval section of a very flat
kind which produces a nail having but two threads or veins or edges and Figure 4
is an oblong section with absolutely four threads because there are four angles but
practically only two threads as in the previous case the keen edges only serving to
cut their way clearly into the material. It will be evident that the sections of
iron used would be regulated by the nature of the work for which the nails were
intended as also the heads upon the same as in soft materials not likely to split
round edges might be used with advantage. In the case of Figure 5 the nail A is
made from a square section of metal and is driven through the piece of timber B
and C both being in the position much as would be the case in getting a box
together. The nail is in elevation and the timber in section from which it will be
clearly seen that the grain of the timber is quite undisturbed the nail having
screwed itself in without tearing the grain of the timber. In the case of Figure 6
the nail D is shown in section as well as the top E and side F but F is in such a

page_text: position as to receive the nail eud wise which is still more favourable to its intrance
and here it will be seen that the grain is not splintered which would be the natural
tendency in this case or otherwise to scrape a round hole.
In driving the nails into leather the action is really beautiful for it is well
known how a screw will hold in leather and this nail is just like a screw in its
hold upon the material while it is driven very speedily with an ordinary hammer
the action always being to draw the two parts such as N and P whether wood
leather or other material most firmly together. The nails k, k, are shewn in
elevation and the nails m, m, in section both pieces of leather N and O being
in section.
The use for these nails is very wide indeed but I may mention amongst the many
examples Coach Pins Coffin Pins, Gimp Pins Panel Pins, Escutcheon Pins Clout-
nails Nails, Slate Nails, Lath Nails, boot and shoe rivets and many other purposes.
They may be made from either steel or iron, brass or other metal wire. It will be
noticed in all the sections shewn the very outer portions thereof become the
diameter of the nail giving great stiffness to them. Ordinary round sections of
wire may be used with a flute or groove or flutes and grooves therein which when
twisted make a thread or threads or spiral groove or spiral grooves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
The improvements in nails which are made from various section of wire or metal
twisted in such a manner as to produce a spiral thread or threads or groove or
grooves therein substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 13th day of October 1886.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.