I have recovered a piece of cast iron from the site of the Albemarle Iron Works
in South Garden, Virginia. Albemarle IW operated a cold blast charcoal furnace
and a finery forge from 1771-72. The object was partially embedded in iron
slag. This resembles forge slag, and is not glassy furnace slag. But, the
Albemarle furnace had production problems and does not appear to have every
produced the glassy slag so characteristic of charcoal blast furnaces.
The object is 16cm in length. It has a rectilinear solid at one end measuring
6.5 x 6 x 6.25cm. Not quite a cube, but close. The rest is a triangular bar
measuring 4cm across the base, 6cm tall, and 9.5 cm long. It was cast as a
solid piece. The triangular piece is centered on the rectangular one, and
broken on the end.
Is it possibly a reinforcing rod or lintel for the working or tuyere arch? Any
other suggestions?
Thanks
James H. Brothers IV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|