… what these are? Or more pertinently, how they were originally used?
They’re tin and appear to be of a kind and vintage with old stamped metal ceilings. I picked up a baggie full of them at a thrift store yesterday for $1.50 and despite what I said about using only items already on hand, I think they’ll have a place in my funky table project. I see gold spray paint in their future.
But I’m curious about their history and purpose.
I’ve seen one ceiling with these in a house YEARS ago (in a house belonging to a friend of my grandmother’s), and I think I saw them in a museum once, but can’t remember where.
Gold spray paint sounds good.
Found this at “This Old House”: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20437428,00.html
Also: http://www.tinceilingxpress.com/?gclid=CIangbLsx78CFUcV7Aod0VQAmg
Those look like something we used to use to hold down Styrofoam insulation on flat roof installations. A long screw would go through the hole in the middle of the plate, then through the 2″ thick insulation and secure to the roof deck.
Possibly used to anchor the corners of matching tin ceiling tiles.
Thank you, Pat, Matt, and Inquiring Minds.
IM — Hm. That’s a new one on me. My guess is that these pre-date Styrofoam, but they could just be very weathered. I’ll look into that.
Pat — I love those ceilings. My friend who died last year had a wonderful tin ceiling in her house, which she and her partner installed themselves (with much cussing and many finger cuts).
Matt — My first thought was that the little things I bought might go in the corners of the larger metal panels, as you say. But I’ve never seen that and don’t see that in pix. So I’m still wondering — and wishing I had budget for tin ceilings!
I think IM is right, they were also used on cellulose fiberboards commonly found on flats roofs even before foam boards so they can be very old. And as they are tin and not plastic I am thinking fiberboards.
Thank you, Bill Taylor! That makes sense. Now, I don’t suppose anybody has any idea what they’re called …
I tried searching on various terms that yielded no helpful results.
How big are those pieces of tin ― 3”, 4”, or ?
With a hole in the center, they would seem not to be used for aesthetic tiles of any sort ― _unless_ the nail/brad to hold the tile was to be a part of the decoration, such as for cabinets, moldings, etc.
You may have to just use ’em and enjoy without an explanation.
Pat — Haven’t measured, but closer to 3″ than 4″. And yep, I’ll just use ’em without any explanation. My plan would be to hammer them as level as possible (without banging out the “sunburst” pattern, which fits exactly with the planned design), epoxy them to the tabletop, then glue “gems” over the holes in the center.
Interesting little do-dads, whatever they are.
They look good on the corners, leaving plenty of room to put food and drink, or whatever, in the center. Can’t wait to see the finished item.
they are used to glue bolts to concrete ceilings to support insulation. The thin long bolt is missing. this is absolutely what it is
IM is the winner, these are used to hold composite insulation to flat roofs. Found many similar shapes but not that style.
Tonerboy and Gary Foster — Well, I guess that does it. We now have an overwhelming majority v*te for these do-dads being (I’m rather sorry to say) plain, utilitarian objects for putting up insulation. Democracy. It’s a wonderful thing.
So IM wins and all you guys are smarter than I am. 🙂 But at least I’ve learned something! Thank you for that and for being so informative.
Early American Coasters. Keep the bier-stein drippings from ruining the tole paintings on the Kytchen Taybul, don’cha know?
A more modern iteration: http://eichlervision.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mini-100915_03-fasteners.jpg
jc2K. Bingo! That’s it. Thank you.
Had a roofing business back in the 80’s they where standard for anchoring any roofing underlayment, you use large spikes for a wooden deck, self tapping screws for steel corrugated decking and special anchors with gypsum decking. It is what keeps your roof from lifting off in high winds. Mostly used in flat roof systems that don’t use stone gravel ballast. They are handy for lots of stuff.