American iron, 1607-1900 / Robert B. Gordon.

Main entry:

Gordon, Robert B. (Robert Boyd), 1929-

Title & Author:

American iron, 1607-1900 / Robert B. Gordon.

Publication:

Description:

xi, 341 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm

Series:

Johns Hopkins studies in the history of technology ; [new ser., no. 19]

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 318-330) and index.
1. Iron -- 2. Ore, Fuel, and Other Natural Resources -- 3. The Rise of American Iron, 1720-1860 -- 4. Smelting with Charcoal -- 5. Converting Pig Iron to Wrought Iron -- 6. Coal-Fired Blast Furnaces -- 7. Steel -- 8. Shaping Iron and Steel -- 9. Iron Quality -- 10. Ironmaking Eclipsed, 1860-1900 -- 11. The Industrial Archaeology of Iron -- Appendix A Metallography -- Appendix B Iron Production Data.
Dust jacket.

Summary:

By applying their abundant natural resources to ironmaking early in the eighteenth century, Americans soon made themselves felt in world markets. After the Revolution, ironmakers supplied the materials necessary to the building of American industry, pushing the fuel efficiency and productivity of their furnaces far ahead of their European rivals.
In American Iron, 1670-1900, Robert B. Gordon draws on recent archaeological findings as well as archival research to present an ambitious, comprehensive survey of iron technology in America from the colonial period to the industry's demise at about the turn of the twentieth century. Closely examining the techniques - the "hows"--Of ironmaking in its various forms, Gordon offers new interpretations of labor, innovation, and product quality in ironmaking, along with the industry's environmental consequences. He shows the high level of skills required to ensure efficient and safe operation of furnaces and to improve the quality of iron product. By mastering founding, fining, puddling, or bloom smelting, ironworkers gained a degree of control over their lives not easily attained by others.

Resources:
Table of contents
Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

ISBN:

0801851815 (alk. paper)
9780801851810 (alk. paper)

Subject:

Iron-works North America History 18th century.
Iron-works North America History 19th century.
Iron Metallurgy History 18th century.
Iron Metallurgy History 19th century.
Usines sidérurgiques Amérique du Nord Histoire 18e siècle.
Usines sidérurgiques Amérique du Nord Histoire 19e siècle.
Fer Métallurgie Histoire 18e siècle.
Fer Métallurgie Histoire 19e siècle.
Iron Metallurgy.
Iron-works.
Iron North America Metallurgy History.
Iron-works North America History.
North America.
Iron Production
United States

Form/genre:

History.

Added entries:

Johns Hopkins studies in the history of technology ; new ser., no. 19.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 110528
Call No.: ID TN704.N5.G67; ID:96-B1738
Status: Available

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