High-quality black-and-white photographs of large old machines and tools

[Jon]

Wire mesh machine. Donora, PA. 1915-1917.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

[Toolmaker51]

Wow, all that feed and assembly mechanism, while maintaining wire under tension; lineshaft driven.

[Jon]

Puddling furnace. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. November, 1886.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

[hemmjo]

I had never heard of a Puddling furnace before this.

[mcthistle007]

Come on I give up What on Gods Earth is a Puddleing Furnace??? and I'm not keen to guess.

[NeiljohnUK]

An explanation: https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org...dling-furnace/

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puddling_(metallurgy)

Henry Cort lived ~ 500 Yards from my home, and I was a governor of the school my son's attended named in his honour!

[Isambard]

I had a closer look and that mesh is spot welded! Lots of transformers there.

[jimfols]

An explanation: https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org...dling-furnace/

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puddling_(metallurgy)

Henry Cort lived ~ 500 Yards from my home, and I was a governor of the school my son's attended named in his honour!

Thanks for posting this.

This from the Wikipedia page: Puddling was never able to be automated because the puddler had to sense when the balls had "come to nature".

Quite a few years ago I purchased the book "Sloss Furnaces and the rise of the Birmingham District".
It was nice to dig the book out again and reread the parts I had glossed over about Puddling.

[marksbug]

Big hot balls of iron. thats pertty neet, and to be able to figure that out was a true stroke of a genius. and Eveolution continues.

[Jon]

Plate leveler. United States Steel Corporation. 1935.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...n_fullsize.jpg