Ohio Finds: Octagonal Hardware Cabinet
Above: The American Bolt & Screw Case Co. of Dayton made these wooden organizational cabinets for stores across the nation.
Metal screws were used as early as the 15th century in Europe, but their production was a laborious process. Blacksmiths would forge nails workers would have to file by hand, making a slot in the head and creating the threads.
New machinery and manufacturing techniques in the 19th century meant fasteners could be mass produced quickly. Hardware stores at the turn of the century were tasked with stocking large quantities of metal fittings in an assortment of types and sizes.
Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objects from Our Past.
Originally published in the NOV/DEC 2022 issue of Ohio Magazine.
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