  We revisit the quantization of U(1) holonomy algebras using the abelian C*
algebra based techniques which form the mathematical underpinnings of current
efforts to construct loop quantum gravity. In particular, we clarify the role
of ``smeared loops'' and of Poincare invariance in the construction of Fock
representations of these algebras. This enables us to critically re-examine
early pioneering efforts to construct Fock space representations of linearised
gravity and free Maxwell theory from holonomy algebras through an application
of the (then current) techniques of loop quantum gravity.
