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The tools and equipment used in everyday life in nineteenth and early twentieth century America were varied and numerous. Rural and small town life presented many challenges. The park has a sampling of different types of tools used for different purposes- iron shears used for making clothes, an iron candlestick and an iron bullet mold. These are typical items used by people living in rural areas after they moved West.
The iron shears are dated 1800. They are handmade with oval-shaped hand grips. The blades are pointed with a metal screw and bolt at the joint. The making of clothing at that time was slow, laborious work. Due to the overall high quality of fabrics in general, garments lasted longer and could be altered and remade as fashions changed. Also, people in general had fewer clothes and smaller wardrobes at that time.
The cast iron candlestick has a patent date of Sept 8,1903, and is the type that is wall-mounted. A sharp pointed edge is connected to a circle. Inside the circle is a metal ring riveted to the outer ring. The inside second ring is the actual candle holder and swivels 360 degrees. It has a long shank at the end. Farmers in the nineteenth century used this type of lighting in their farm houses.
Ammunition casting molds have dropped in popularity since the 1800s. Back before ammo was mass produced and easily accessible, firearms were often sold with an ammunition mold to allow the owner to cast their own bullets. This was especially advantageous for gun owners in rural areas. Our plier type bullet mold is dated circa 1880. It is a press mold for a 45 caliber bullet which has wooden hand grips and edged with brass on each end.
All three of these iron pieces served their purposes well in dealing with everyday life in nineteenth and early twentieth century America.