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
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