down to brass tacks (1867)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

Doug Wilson posted cites for non-literal "brass tacks" from 1876:
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0508A&L=ADS-L&P=R8425

>From the 19th C. US Newspapers database (guessing on the page number):

1867 _Bangor (Maine) Daily Whig & Courier_ 12 Jan. 2[?]/3 The
Galveston Bulletin says that Texas must "come down to brass tacks" and
accept the constitutional amendment, unless the people wish Congress
to proceed with reconstruction.

Was it originally a Texanism? (Barry?)


--Ben Zimmer

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