1911 Centralia (Wash.) Chronicle 25 Jan. 4/3: They will be ‘getting down to brass tacks’ (if one will pardon a slang phrase in discussing so serious a question.).at get down to brass tacks (v.) under brass tacks, n.
1935 Centralia (WA) Chronicle Advertiser 15 Nov. 4/3: Every chief mobsman has his clown.at mobsman, n.