This is a Trivia Quiz. Some fastener that is used was measured in pennies in the "old ages". I thought it was an interesting answer. I'll post the answer unless someone gets it first.
Framed houses during high school summers. Trick was to get a waffle head framing hammer (16 or 20 oz), give the 16d nail a tap into your board, then one swing bury it to the hilt. Tap-Bang! Tap-Bang! All day long.
Old ages? Framing nails are still referred to as 10d common nails stated as 10 penny common nails. Not sure how that's 'old ages'?
I remember my pap and dad reffering to them as 10 penny nails or the like. I would've never guessed the answer but now that you say it, I do remember.
Try using one to toenail a stud. Tight places would be difficult and a 16 oz hammer is more than adequate if used properly.
We had air (not propane) nail guns, but too many of my moron crew mates kept shooting themselves. I stuck with the hammer to drive the 16d toenails. The nail guns would slip too easily when trying to angle the nail into the base of the studs/joists. We did use them to wage occasional war with the crew next door. Had to wedge the safety open so that we could rapid fire nails at them. Never hit a dam thing...for some reasons nails don't fly true and straight!
Let's take it a step farther back, the "d" used for penny in the nail sizes goes back to the Roman denarius.
I have a permanently misshapen fingernail from a moron firing one of this into my hand some thirty years ago.
