Can anyone identify these?

CCDAMEEK

I was given permission to detect a Mason's Lodge which was erected in 1903. First day I found 2 Lincoln cents, and about 30 of the items in the photo below. They are made of copper, the square is about 1/2" x 1/2", and the post is not sharp.

Anyone know what these are or used for?

49tacfw

I'll Take a try at them Brother, we use them in the pipe fitting trades as insulation blanket mount anchors. The stud is copper and the cap is sheet metal now. A spot welder pops the copper stud on and then it pokes a hole through the fiberglass blanket and you push the sheet metal in the stud to hold it down. When asbestos was troweled on equipment back in the day those heavy anchors were welded on the unit to get it to stick to the asbestos to stay on the unit. Just an idea!

CCDAMEEK

@49tacfw said:
I'll Take a try at them Brother, we use them in the pipe fitting trades as insulation blanket mount anchors. The stud is copper and the cap is sheet metal now. A spot welder pops the copper stud on and then it pokes a hole through the fiberglass blanket and you push the sheet metal in the stud to hold it down. When asbestos was troweled on equipment back in the day those heavy anchors were welded on the unit to get it to stick to the asbestos to stay on the unit. Just an idea!

OK.....How does sheet metal get pushed "in the stud" to hold everything together, with the stud being so dull? Going through the asbestos or fiberglass, no problem. Pretty certain that that old 1906 Lodge sure would have had asbestos insulation on the heating system! Just can't picture in my mind what your describing, but I certainly trust your expertise on the subject matter!!!

AUandAG

Perhaps coat hangers just not attached yet?

bob

CCDAMEEK

@AUandAG said:
Perhaps coat hangers just not attached yet?

bob

Appreciate the thought, but these things are so small they really couldn't be used for something like that.

I found these in the ground on three sides of the old lodge, and I never got to work the forth side. That said, I'm thinking they may have been used somehow on the exterior of the building. Initially I was thinking a roofing nail/retainer of some kind, but not being sharp kind of blows that thought!

Bayard1908

I believe those are old roofing nails.

CCDAMEEK

@Bayard1908 said:
I believe those are old roofing nails.

That's what I was thinking, but not one of these 30+ that I found, has ANY kind of a sharp point on the post, so I think that kind of rules that idea out? There ARE roofing nails today that look similar, but all have sharp points to pound them in. THANK YOU for replying though!

ricko

Interesting items... I was thinking part of a rivet for siding... but do not know of any just like that... Cheers, RickO

windwhispersintrees

I've seen something similar...or had something similar in my misc hardware bin...I want to say they had something to do with window shades or drapes, but can't confirm.

CCDAMEEK

@windwhispersintrees said:
I've seen something similar...or had something similar in my misc hardware bin...I want to say they had something to do with window shades or drapes, but can't confirm.

Yep, Something similar indeed. Old round curtain rods used hardware that looks exactly like these, with the exception of having four holes on the flat copper part to allow for little copper nails to attach them to the window trim! Great thinking though!! I actually have several in my misc. hardware bin!

Hemispherical

@CCDAMEEK said:
I was given permission to detect a Mason's Lodge which was erected in 1903. First day I found 2 Lincoln cents, and about 30 of the items in the photo below. They are made of copper, the square is about 1/2" x 1/2", and the post is not sharp.

Anyone know what these are or used for?

I think @49tacfw hit the nail on the head. Since it’s copper it might be an early version of “lacing anchors” or “insulation hangers.”

BLUEJAYWAY

Ask Tom Silva on "This Old House". He is a wealth of information.

basetsb

Definitely old roofing nails, I find them in my yard all the time.