In a message dated 30/01/00 21:08:45, Peter King writes:
<< n the late 17th and early 18th century some charcoal blast furnaces were
producing a small variety of cast iron products. Hammers, anvils and
plates were obviously for use in forges. I understand that a gudgeon was
something to do with a pivot, as the axis about with the helve turned as it
was lifted. Was it the hollow in which what turned sat, that is the bottom
part of the bearing?
I also understand that a hurst was the iron collar through which timber
helve passed. Would this have incorporated the piece of metal that turned,
namely the central part of the bearing?
I have also seen references to bouks (or bowks) and boyts. Can any one
tell me what these were?
Does any one know of an authoritative sources for the terminology of the
different part sof the hammer in a forge?
>>
Firstly, Philip Riden's edition of George Sitwell's Letter Book (Derbyshire
Record Society 1985) has a useful glossary of such terms. It describes a
gudgeon as a pivot fixed on or let into the end of a beam/axle etc. on which
a wheel turns etc. In the case of a forge, it would probably be where the end
of the hurst was allowed to rotate against the hammer frame.
It does not mention a boyet, which I believe was the bearing on which a
water-wheel axle rested (but I cannot remember where I got that from -
possibly OED).
Jeremy Hodgkinson
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