Standard Iron and Steel Co
Standard Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., of Gorton, Manchester.
See also Lancashire Steel Co
Manchester Archives: c. 1876-1881 (1 box) (Collection not catalogued). Records including reports of the manager, foreman, engineer, S.R. Smyth and Directors, 1877-1878 (5 leaflets); balance sheets, 1876-1877; correspondence and papers relating to liquidation, 1880-1881 (25 items).
1876 'NEW IRON-MAKING PROCESS.— The members of the Manchester Scientific and Mechanical Society paid a visit to the Standard Iron and Steel Works Company (formerly Bolckow, Vaughan, and Co.), Gorton, to inspect a new process for making iron and steel, patented by Mr Samuel R. Smyth. About 6 or 7 tons of common scrap iron were melted in an ordinary cupola, and run into a Bessemer converter, the current of air from the blowing engines being used to introduce certain chemical compounds and reagents into the molten metal for the purpose of eliminating impurities. This was done at a sacrifice of only a small percentage of iron. The process of refining and purifying occupied between nine and ten minutes, and the quality of the production appeared to be in every way satisfactory. Both grey and white iron can be produced of a high specific gravity and of great density. A number of test bars made by Mr Smyth's process from grey iron were submitted for inspection. The cast-iron test bars were 1 in. square and 4 ft. 8 in. long, and at the time of testing were placed upon supports 4 ft. 6in. apart. The weight was suspended iu the centre on a knife edge, the deflection measuring every 100 lb. up to 600 lb. The total deflection was found to be 1.375 in. The weights were then gradually removed, and when all were off the deflection was found to be about 0.062 of an inch only. Altogether the process seems likely to fulfil the sanguine expectations formed of it. The works have only been in operation a few days, and it is intended to erect an apparatus for making wrought-iron of high quality in large masses without piling or welding.' [1]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Chard and Ilminster News, 2 September 1876
[1] Manchester Archives