Hardware

By 1820, cut nails made with machines replaced nails made by blacksmiths. These nails are still made by the Tremont Nail Company in Massachusetts, in business since 1815.



Mr. Alexander probably carried a wide variety of hardware in his store such as nails, screws, locks, hinges, ax heads, shovels, spades and many other tools. Nails were factory made by water and steam power and shipped to stores. Blacksmiths still made nails by hand but in small amounts for special purposes.

A felling ax, spade, and broad ax. These are some of the tools Mr. Alexander probably had in his store. Tools were often shipped without handles to save space.

The broad ax is an original artifact; the felling ax and spade are reproductions.

Ledger entry from an 1840s Jacksonville, IL store.
Mr. Alexander would have kept a similar record.

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