[TheForge] -time line Was--> Stupid comments

[Bruce Freeman]

>>and what would the "power hammers" of the about 1850 look like.

>Unless you were near a river or stream I would say that the pwr hammer=20
>would look like your biggest apprentice. <smile>

But if you were near a stream, and anyone who needed power WAS near a =
stream, a power hammer WAS a trip hammer.  This was a large hammer on a =
pivot, such that the hammer would drop onto an anvil (a simple rectangular =
anvil, not London-patterned).  A camshaft mounted under the hammer was =
driven by a water wheel and would lift the hammer and drop it again.  The =
camshaft could turn well over 100 rpm, so you'd easily get 100 blows per =
minute, maybe a lot more.  There's a Shaker village somewhere near Troy, =
NY, that has a couple of these to demonstrate.  There's an enormous one at =
Saugus, with a hammer head of something like 500#-700#, IIRC, that's been =
reconstructed.  They demo that sometimes on tours.  The original was built =
in the 1600's.  Have you seen the video of the Czech blacksmith shop?  It =
shows a trip hammer in use.

>>Working in a smithy that is should to be an 1850's shop with a hand =
crank
>>blower (they did take out the electric one), 25# Little Giant(biult =
1916),
>>bottom blowen forge and wall mounted hand crank drill press.
>>do you think every thing is period?

As I understand it, side tuyeres were necessary for charcoal, but bottom =
tuyeres are better for coal.  Cross-over is always possible.

It sounds to me like the shop is of a period later than it pretends to be. =
 However, bear in mind that demonstrating blacksmithing to the public is =
of tremendous value, and absolute authenticity is only of great value to =
sticklers for such things.  TELL people to what extent the place misreprese=
nts the time period, and what they would expect to see at the time.

Meanwhile, build yourself a bellows.  Cheat, and use plywood, but make it =
look like boards.  You'll love a bellows. =20

Bruce
NJ