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coke; brays or small coke; and peat。  An abundance of coals existed in

the neighbourhood:  by rejecting those of inferior quality; and coking

the others with great care; a combustible was obtained better fitted

even than charcoal itself for the fusion of that particular kind of

ore which is found in the coal…measures。  Thus we find Darby's most

favourite charge for his furnaces to have been five baskets of coke;

two of brays; and one of peat; next followed the ore; and then the

limestone。  The use of charcoal was gradually given up as the art of

smelting with coke and brays improved; most probably aided by the

increased power of the furnace…blast; until at length we find it

entirely discontinued。



The castings of Coalbrookdale gradually acquired a reputation; and

the trade of Abraham Darby continued to increase until the date of

his death; which occurred at Madeley Court in 1717。  His sons were too

young at the time to carry on the business which he had so

successfully started; and several portions of the works were sold at

a serious sacrifice。  But when the sons had grown up to manhood; they

too entered upon the business of iron…founding; and Abraham Darby's

son and grandson; both of the same name; largely extended the

operations of the firm; until Coalbrookdale; or; as it was popularly

called; 〃Bedlam;〃 became the principal seat of one of the most

important branches of the iron trade。



There seems to be some doubt as to the precise time when pit…coal was

first regularly employed at Coalbrookdale in smelting the ore。  Mr。

Scrivenor says; 〃pit…coal was first used by Mr。 Abraham Darby; in his

furnace at Coalbrookdale; in 1713;〃*

 'footnote。。。

History of the Iron Trade; p。 56。

 。。。'

but we can find no confirmation of this statement in the records of

the Company。  It is probable that Mr。 Darby used raw coal; as was done

in the Forest of Dean at the same time;*

 'footnote。。。

See Mr。 Powle's account of the Iron Works in the Forest of Dean

(1677…8); in the Philosophical Transactions; vol。 ii。 p。 418; where

he says; 〃After they have pounded their ore; their first work is to

calcine it; which is done in kilns; much after the fashion of

ordinary lime…kilns; These they fill up to the top with coal and ore;

stratum super stratum; until it be full; and so setting fire to the

bottom; they let it burn till the coal be wasted; and then renew the

kilns with fresh ore and coal; in the same manner as before。  This is

done without fusion of the metal; and serves to consume the more

drossy parts of the ore and to make it friable。〃  The writer then

describes the process of smelting the ore mixed with cinder in the

furnaces; where; he says; the fuel is 〃always of charcoal。〃  〃Several

attempts;〃 he adds; 〃have been made to introduce the use of sea…coal

in these works instead of charcoal; the former being to be had at an

easier rate than the latter; but hitherto they have proved

ineffectual; the workmen finding by experience that a sea…coal fire;

how vehement soever; will not penetrate the most fixed parts of the

ore; and so leaves much of the metal unmelted〃

 。。。'

in the process of calcining the ore; but it would appear from his own

Memoranda that coke only was used in the process of smelting。  We

infer from other circumstances that pit…coal was not employed for the

latter purpose until a considerably later period。  The merit of its

introduction; and its successful use in iron…smelting; is due to Mr。

Richard Ford; who had married a daughter of Abraham Darby; and

managed the Coalbrookdale works in 1747。  In a paper by the Rev。 Mr。

Mason; Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge; given in the

'Philosophical Transactions' for that year;*

 'footnote。。。

Phil。  Trans。  vol。 xliv。 305。

 。。。'

the first account of its successful

employment is stated as follows:   〃Several attempts have been made

to run iron…ore with pit…coal:  he (Mr。Mason) thinks it has not

succeeded anywhere; as we have had no account of its being practised;

but Mr。 Ford; of Coalbrookdale in Shropshire; from iron…ore and coal;

both got in the same dale; makes iron brittle or tough as he pleases;

there being cannon thus cast so soft as to bear turning like

wrought…iron。〃  Most probably; however; it was not until the time of

Richard Reynolds; who succeeded Abraham Darby the second in the

management of the works in 1757; that pit…coal came into large and

regular use in the blasting…furnaces as well as the fineries of

Coalbrookdale。



Richard Reynolds was born at Bristol in 1735。  His parents; like the

Darbys; belonged to the Society of Friends; and he was educated in

that persuasion。  Being a spirited; lively youth; the 〃old Adam〃

occasionally cropped out in him; and he is even said; when a young

man; to have been so much fired by the heroism of the soldier's

character that he felt a strong desire to embrace a military career;

but this feeling soon died out; and he dropped into the sober and

steady rut of the Society。  After serving an apprenticeship in his

native town; he was sent to Coalbrookdale on a mission of business;

where he became acquainted with the Darby family; and shortly after

married Hannah; the daughter of Abraham the second。  He then entered

upon the conduct of the iron and coal works at Ketley and Horsehay;

where he resided for six years; removing to Coalbrookdale in 1763; to

take charge of the works there; on the death of his father…in…law。



By the exertions and enterprise of the Darbys; the Coalbrookdale

Works had become greatly enlarged; giving remunerative employment to

a large and increasing population。  The firm had extended their

operations far beyond the boundaries of the Dale:  they had

established foundries at London; Bristol; and Liverpool; and agencies

at Newcastle and Truro for the disposal of steam…engines and other

iron machinery used in the deep mines of those districts。  Watt had

not yet perfected his steam…engine; but there was a considerable

demand for pumping…engines of Newcomen's construction; many of which

were made at the Coalbrookdale Works。  The increasing demand for iron

gave an impetus to coal…mining; which in its turn stimulated

inventors in their improvement of the power of the steam…engine; for

the coal could not be worked quickly and advantageously unless the

pits could be kept clear of water。  Thus one invention stimulates

another; and when the steam…engine had been perfected by Watt; and

enabled powerful…blowing apparatus to be worked by its agency; we

shall find that the production of iron by means of pit…coal being

rendered cheap and expeditious; soon became enormously increased。



We are informed that it was while Richard Reynolds had charge of the

Coalbrookdale works that a further important improvement was effected

in the manufacture of iron by pit…coal。  Up to this time the

conversion of crude or cast iron into malleable or bar iron had been

effected entirely by means of charcoal。  The process was carried on in

a fire called a finery; somewhat like that of a smith's forge; the

iron being exposed to the blast of powerful bellows; and in constant

contact with the fuel。  In the first process of fusing the ironstone;

coal had been used for some time with increasing success; but the

question arose; whether coal might not also be used with effect in

the second or refining stage。  Two of the foremen; named Cranege;

suggested to Mr。 Reynolds that this might be performed in what is

called a reverberatory furnace;*

 'footnote。。。

Reverberatory; so called because the flame or current of heated gases

from the fuel is caused to be reverberated or reflected down upon the

substance under operation before passing into the chimney。  It is

curious that Rovenson; in his Treatise of Metallica of 1613;

describes a reverberatory furnace in which iron was to be smelted by

pit…coal; though it does not appear that he succeeded in perfecting

his invention。  Dr。 Percy; in his excellent work on Metallurgy; thus

describes a reverberatory furnace:   〃It consists essentially of

three partsa fireplace at one end; a stack or chimney at the other;

and a bed between both on which the matter is heated。  The fireplace

is separated from the bed by a low partition wall called the

fire…bridge; and both are covered by an arched roof which rises from

the end wall of the fireplace and gradually dips toward the furthest

end of the bed connected with the stack。  On one or both sides of the

bed; or at the end near the stack; may be openings through which the

ore spread over the surface of the bed may be stirred about and

exposed to the action of the air。  The matter is heated in such a

furnace by flame; and is kept from contact with the solid fuel。  The

flame in its course from the fireplace to the stack is reflected

downwards or REVERBERATED on the matter beneath; whence the name

REVERBERATORY furnace。〃

 。。。'

in which the iron should not mix with the coal; but 

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