I'd say in the world of 19th century storefronts, there was more pressed metal storefront ornament than cast iron. The metal would be stamped out, then galvanized. Cheap, simple to ship, quick and easy to assemble.  

Not uncommon to have the columns flanking the storefront be cast iron, and everything else above to be pressed metal. Cast iron doesn't dent like 1/16" thick sheet metal.

Dan


-----Original Message-----
From: The listserv which takes flossing seriously! on behalf of Met History
Sent: Sun 5/1/2005 1:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:      [BP] gal iron
 

1880's rowhouse on 95th Street off Park Avenue.
one-story oriel window on second floor.
window cased in galvanized iron, light weight - e.g. "tin".

most other oriels in this row have standard detailing.

this oriel is bracketed by fluted colonnettes (engaged, and thus half-round
in section), not so remarkable, except that fluting is spiralled around the
half-round.

i didn't know galvanized could be pressed out in such a way.

not cast iron, not wood.  galvanized or other light duty metal (very, very
unlikely it would be copper on such a row, based on class of construction and
observed deterioration)

c

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