Do you mean "coal" specifically or coal-based fuels generally?
My view is that before c.1690, there were no foundries as such. Cast iron
goods were made with molten iron run or ladled from the blast furnace.
One of the kinds of reverberatory furnace devised by Sir Clement Clerke was
the air furnace used for remelting and casting pig iron: see my 'Sir Clement
Clerke and the Adoption of Coal in Metallurgy' Trans. Newcomen Soc. 73(1)
(2001-2) - electronic copies available from the Society's website (for
payment). The fuel for these is likely to have been coal, but it did not
come into contact with the metal
Form the late 18th century, foundries had foundry cupolas, a sort of small
blast furnace. As far as I know these were always coke fired.
Peter King
49, Stourbridge Road,
Hagley,
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY9 0QS
01562-720368
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-----Original Message-----
From: Arch-Metals Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
James Brothers
Sent: 04 July 2008 03:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Use of Coal in Foundries
I have been looking for information on the use of coal in iron
foundries. While there is lots of discussion on the use of coal and
coke in blast furnaces, I can't locate much on foundries. It seems
clear that it would be possible to use coal in an air furnace, but
when does it happen? Is coal used, or must it be coke? How, if at all,
does the use of coal (as opposed to coke) effect the iron?
Any information or sources to look at is appreciated.
Thanks
Jim Brothers
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