I just obtained the following book:
Hyde, Charles K.
1977 Technological Change and the British Iron Industry 1700-1870. Princeton
University Press, Princeton.
If his figures are correct (pp. 23-41), he makes a very compelling case for why
no one but the Darby's bothered to make coke iron. Hyde also asserts on p. 40
that Darby patented (1707) a technique for casting using sand instead of loam.
His castings used about 1/2 the iron of traditional methods. Additionally, the
coke pig iron poured better due to its higher silicon content.
Has anyone else seen it? Opinions?
Hyde has also done a lot of research into accounts and ledgers. The result is
good cost data on iron production. He also has data on furnace output and
revised total production of pig and bar for 18C England.
JH Brothers IV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|