Dr Gordon Pollard

Abstract

Research into the company records and correspondence of the Clintonville, New York, iron works (1824-1890) has revealed that bloomery forge management had a constant concern for improved efficiency and economy in iron production. This concern is evident in several aspects of forge operation, including experimentation in the application of hot blast, the size and number of tuyères in bloomery forges, recovery from river sands of ore lost in the separation process, the employment and modification of new techniques of processing raw ore, and the utilization of waste heat from the forges. It is also evident that information about developments in the industry spread rapidly from one region of the US to another, as well as across the Atlantic. Adirondack bloomery forge production of iron in the 19th century is thus seen as having been a dynamic and creative endeavour that made significant contributions to the industry overall.

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References
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How to Cite
Experimentation in 19th century bloomery iron production: evidence from the Adirondacks of New York. (2022). Historical Metallurgy, 32(1), 33-40. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/308
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