Hi Timbeal:
I personally have never seen a test other than the test of time.
A few years ago, I examined a one room school house here in Dundas County Ontario Canada that was constructed in 1872. The frame was vertical 2"+thick by 12" planks. This building is still in excellent condition and is being used as a residential home presently.
At that time I did extensive research and I came up with the original document that dealt with its construction. It makes for very interesting study if you are into that type of thing.
Some of the interesting details were:
-- the dovetailling of the centre cross floor member into the side sills to stop any outward movement of the sill sideways.
--the shingles to be were tarred after application
--The vertical planks on the two side walls and the back wall were covered with vertical pine board and batt as a weather shield
--The planks were fastened in place using 4" wrought iron spikes
--The front wall was covered with horizontal feather edged boards hand planed and painted with good lead paint.
Everything was included in this 3 page document including the price at that time it made very good study material, and the document itself could have been used to exactly replicate this structure. The only thing left out though was how the frame was raised.
I sort of think that the walls with the vertical plank attached was raised one segment at a time, maybe someone could shine some light on what the sequence might have been.
Hope you enjoy
NH
