Wooden Blocks Late 1850's These two blocks are the two known styles used with the various rubber covered ramshorns which are derivative of the Farmer & Batchelder 1858 patent. The block on the left is a trapezoid with a tapered top from back to front. The block on the right is much more rare and is characterized by a rounded, flat crown. Both were nailed with large square spikes directly to a pole or tree. These were widely used in the Western U.S. and date to the late 1850's. Other varieties of ramshorns can be seen in this photograph of six ramshorn specimens.