It might well be a lintel for the blowing or casting arch of a furnace. I
do not think I have heard of iron being used in many other ways in the
construction of furnaces.
Peter King
----- Original Message -----
From: J. H. Brothers <[log in to unmask]>
To: arch-metals <[log in to unmask]>; ind-arch
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 15 August 2000 20:04
Subject: Cast Iron Artifact
> 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
>
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