A very good point!  
Those who have been lucky to see the movie/documentary done by Prof. Arne Espelund, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, on bog iron and bloomery furnaces may be able to visualize the learning curve a little more easily.  
There is a lovely bit where he learns how they tasted the bog iron to see if it is suitable for use!
Susan Stock<[log in to unmask]>

>>> Richard Furrer <[log in to unmask]> 03/22/00 10:57AM >>>
Hello all,
I agree with Mr. Albek, but what also must be taken into account is that these
individuals grew up around the technology. A child reared in such surroundings
would be able to hand such a smelt by a young age -- simply by repetition  : same
style furnace, same ore source, same fuel sources similar results. at the time it
would have been expected knowledge and that is one of the reasons there are few
records.

How many of us have made it clear in writing that will survive exactly how oil is
changed in a 57 chevy or how to load, clean and maintain a standard drip coffee
machine?

Richard Furrer

Søren Albek wrote:

> Dear mr. Hutchinson,
> you make it seem so simple, but in fact it requires a great deal of
> skill to produce good quality blooms using "the old method", so possibly
> the children worked the bellows, but an expert at iron extraction must
> have been controlling the process. The big issue is whether it was done
> by specialized craftsmen or whether the local farmer was able.
> The estimations made from such experiments around the world (not only in
> the UK, but also Germany, Denmark and elsewhere) still leaves a lot to
> be desired, with respect to amount of produce, quality of produce,
> quality of bog iron ore needed, how to judge the quality of bog iron
> ore, consistency, etc.
> So, how did they do it ? Can we in fact reproduce in detail the
> production process ? Without using modern technical equipment, of
> course. In my opinion many of these experiments has been a slow
> gathering of experience in iron making, each experiment in itself being
> a contribution to the discussion.
> As a fact, the modern industrialisation of iron production has cut off
> the direct link between the iron producers using "the old method" with
> those using the modern method - a true loss of first-hand knowledge.
>
> You could compare the situation in experimental iron making with that in
> experimental flint-tool making.
>
> With best regards,
> Mr. Søren Albek, Denmark
>
> Peter Hutchison wrote:
> >
> > William
> >
> > Interesting but Ronnie Tylecote started this sort of thing in 1958 - JISI
> > 190 339-48. I pumped the bellows for a smelter more than 10 years ago
> > investigating the waste products from iron smelting. Tedious but not
> > physically demanding.
> >
> > There are a number of smelters working now and again in the UK - some partly
> > to show to tourists.
> >
> > The ancients probably did the obvious - threw the "gromps" back into the
> > furnace - ore with 90+ % iron - better than 30-40% bog iron ore. My 5 year
> > old grandson would be very good at this and no doubt the children worked in
> > those days.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> > Peter Hutchison
> > Honorary General Secretary
> > The Historical Metallurgy Society Ltd
> > Tel +44 (0) 1792 233 223
> > [log in to unmask] 






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