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С˵£º industrial biography ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
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the¡¡¡¨wise¡¡man¡¨¡¡of¡¡his¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡not¡¡only¡¡consulted¡¡as¡¡to

the¡¡repairs¡¡of¡¡machinery£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡frame¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡practised

surgery¡¡with¡¡dexterity£»¡¡though¡¡after¡¡an¡¡empirical¡¡fashion£»¡¡and¡¡was

held¡¡in¡¡especial¡¡esteem¡¡as¡¡an¡¡oculist¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡success¡¡was¡¡such¡¡that¡¡his

advice¡¡was¡¡sought¡¡in¡¡many¡¡surgical¡¡diseases£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡always¡¡ready

to¡¡give¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡declined¡¡receiving¡¡any¡¡payment¡¡in¡¡return¡£



In¡¡the¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mechanical¡¡calling£»¡¡he¡¡introduced¡¡several

improved¡¡tools£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡much¡¡hindered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡inferior¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡the

metal¡¡supplied¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡common¡¡German¡¡steel¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡also

experienced¡¡considerable¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡finding¡¡a¡¡material¡¡suitable

for¡¡the¡¡springs¡¡and¡¡pendulums¡¡of¡¡his¡¡clocks¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡circumstances

induced¡¡him¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡a¡¡better¡¡kind¡¡of

steel¡¡than¡¡was¡¡then¡¡procurable£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purposes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡trade¡£¡¡¡¡His

first¡¡experiments¡¡were¡¡conducted¡¡at¡¡Doncaster£»*

¡¡£§footnote¡£¡£¡£

There¡¡are¡¡several¡¡clocks¡¡still¡¡in¡¡existence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of

Doncaster¡¡made¡¡by¡¡Benjamin¡¡Huntsman£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡is¡¡one¡¡in¡¡the

possession¡¡of¡¡his¡¡grandson£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pendulum¡¡made¡¡of¡¡cast¡­steel¡£¡¡¡¡The

manufacture¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pendulum¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡material¡¡at¡¡that¡¡early¡¡date¡¡is

certainly¡¡curious£»¡¡its¡¡still¡¡perfect¡¡spring¡¡and¡¡elasticity¡¡showing

the¡¡scrupulous¡¡care¡¡with¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡£

¡¡¡£¡£¡££§

but¡¡as¡¡fuel¡¡was¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had¡¡at¡¡that¡¡place£»¡¡he¡¡determined£»¡¡for

greater¡¡convenience£»¡¡to¡¡remove¡¡to¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡Sheffield£»

which¡¡he¡¡did¡¡in¡¡1740¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡first¡¡settled¡¡at¡¡Handsworth£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡miles¡¡to

the¡¡south¡¡of¡¡that¡¡town£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡pursued¡¡his¡¡investigations¡¡in

secret¡£¡¡¡¡Unfortunately£»¡¡no¡¡records¡¡have¡¡been¡¡preserved¡¡of¡¡the¡¡methods

which¡¡he¡¡adopted¡¡in¡¡overcoming¡¡the¡¡difficulties¡¡he¡¡had¡¡necessarily¡¡to

encounter¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡great¡¡is¡¡certain£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡process

of¡¡manufacturing¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡of¡¡a¡¡first¡­rate¡¡quality¡¡even¡¡at¡¡this¡¡day

is¡¡of¡¡a¡¡most¡¡elaborate¡¡and¡¡delicate¡¡character£»¡¡requiring¡¡to¡¡be

carefully¡¡watched¡¡in¡¡its¡¡various¡¡stages¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡discover

the¡¡fuel¡¡and¡¡flux¡¡suitable¡¡for¡¡his¡¡purpose£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡build¡¡such¡¡a

furnace¡¡and¡¡make¡¡such¡¡a¡¡crucible¡¡as¡¡should¡¡sustain¡¡a¡¡heat¡¡more

intense¡¡than¡¡any¡¡then¡¡known¡¡in¡¡metallurgy¡£¡¡¡¡Ingot¡­moulds¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet

been¡¡cast£»¡¡nor¡¡were¡¡there¡¡hoops¡¡and¡¡wedges¡¡made¡¡that¡¡would¡¡hold¡¡them

together£»¡¡nor£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡were¡¡any¡¡of¡¡those¡¡materials¡¡at¡¡his¡¡disposal

which¡¡are¡¡now¡¡so¡¡familiar¡¡at¡¡every¡¡melting¡­furnace¡£



Huntsman's¡¡experiments¡¡extended¡¡over¡¡many¡¡years¡¡before¡¡the¡¡desired

result¡¡was¡¡achieved¡£¡¡¡¡Long¡¡after¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡the¡¡memorials¡¡of¡¡the

numerous¡¡failures¡¡through¡¡which¡¡he¡¡toilsomely¡¡worked¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to

success£»¡¡were¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡light¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡many¡¡hundredweights¡¡of

steel£»¡¡found¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡in¡¡different¡¡places¡¡about¡¡his

manufactory¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡these¡¡wrecks¡¡of¡¡early¡¡experiments£»¡¡it

is¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡continuously¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡grand¡¡idea¡¡of

purifying¡¡the¡¡raw¡¡steel¡¡then¡¡in¡¡use£»¡¡by¡¡melting¡¡it¡¡with¡¡fluxes¡¡at¡¡an

intense¡¡heat¡¡in¡¡closed¡¡earthen¡¡crucibles¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡buried¡¡masses¡¡were

found¡¡in¡¡various¡¡stages¡¡of¡¡failure£»¡¡arising¡¡from¡¡imperfect¡¡melting£»

breaking¡¡of¡¡crucibles£»¡¡and¡¡bad¡¡fluxes£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hid¡¡away¡¡as¡¡so

much¡¡spoiled¡¡steel¡¡of¡¡which¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡be¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡his

perseverance¡¡was¡¡rewarded£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡invention¡¡perfected£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡a

hundred¡¡years¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡Huntsman's¡¡discovery£»¡¡the¡¡description

of¡¡fuel¡¡£¨coke£©¡¡which¡¡he¡¡first¡¡applied¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡melting¡¡the

steel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡crucibles¡¡and¡¡furnaces¡¡which¡¡he¡¡used£»¡¡are¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most

part¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡those¡¡in¡¡use¡¡at¡¡the¡¡present¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Although¡¡the¡¡making

of¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡is¡¡conducted¡¡with¡¡greater¡¡economy¡¡and¡¡dexterity£»¡¡owing

to¡¡increased¡¡experience£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡questionable¡¡whether¡¡any¡¡maker¡¡has

since¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡surpass¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡Huntsman's¡¡manufacture¡£



The¡¡process¡¡of¡¡making¡¡cast¡­steel£»¡¡as¡¡invented¡¡by¡¡Benjamin¡¡Huntsman£»

may¡¡be¡¡thus¡¡summarily¡¡described¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡melting¡¡is¡¡conducted¡¡in¡¡clay

pots¡¡or¡¡crucibles¡¡manufactured¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose£»¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡holding

about¡¡34¡¡lbs¡£¡¡each¡£¡¡¡¡Ten¡¡or¡¡twelve¡¡of¡¡such¡¡crucibles¡¡are¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡a

melting¡­furnace¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡that¡¡used¡¡by¡¡brass¡¡founders£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the

furnace¡¡and¡¡pots¡¡are¡¡at¡¡a¡¡white¡¡heat£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡they¡¡are¡¡raised¡¡by¡¡a

coke¡¡fire£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡charged¡¡with¡¡bar¡¡steel¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡a¡¡certain

degree¡¡of¡¡hardness£»¡¡and¡¡broken¡¡into¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡about¡¡a¡¡pound¡¡each¡£

When¡¡the¡¡pots¡¡are¡¡all¡¡thus¡¡charged¡¡with¡¡steel£»¡¡lids¡¡are¡¡placed¡¡over

them£»¡¡the¡¡furnace¡¡is¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡coke£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡put¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡Under

the¡¡intense¡¡heat¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡metal¡¡is¡¡exposed£»¡¡it¡¡undergoes¡¡an

apparent¡¡ebullition¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡furnace¡¡requires¡¡feeding£»¡¡the¡¡workmen

take¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡lifting¡¡the¡¡lid¡¡of¡¡each¡¡crucible¡¡and¡¡judging

how¡¡far¡¡the¡¡process¡¡has¡¡advanced¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡about¡¡three¡¡hours'¡¡exposure

to¡¡the¡¡heat£»¡¡the¡¡metal¡¡is¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡¡¨teeming¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡completion¡¡of¡¡the

melting¡¡process¡¡is¡¡known¡¡by¡¡the¡¡subsidence¡¡of¡¡all¡¡ebullition£»¡¡and¡¡by

the¡¡clear¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡melted¡¡metal£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dazzling

brilliancy¡¡like¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡when¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡with¡¡the¡¡naked¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡a¡¡clear

day¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pots¡¡are¡¡then¡¡lifted¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡liquid

steel¡¡is¡¡poured¡¡into¡¡ingots¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡and¡¡size¡¡required¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pots

are¡¡replaced£»¡¡filled¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡process¡¡is¡¡repeated£»¡¡the¡¡red¡­hot

pots¡¡thus¡¡serving¡¡for¡¡three¡¡successive¡¡charges£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡they¡¡are

rejected¡¡as¡¡useless¡£



When¡¡Huntsman¡¡had¡¡perfected¡¡his¡¡invention£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡naturally¡¡occur

to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡new¡¡metal¡¡might¡¡be¡¡employed¡¡for¡¡other¡¡purposes

besides¡¡clock¡­springs¡¡and¡¡pendulums¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡business¡¡of¡¡clock¡­making¡¡was

then¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡limited¡¡character£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡could¡¡scarcely¡¡have¡¡been

worth¡¡his¡¡while¡¡to¡¡pursue¡¡so¡¡extensive¡¡and¡¡costly¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of

experiments¡¡merely¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡the¡¡requirements¡¡of¡¡that¡¡trade¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is

more¡¡probable¡¡that¡¡at¡¡an¡¡early¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡his¡¡investigations¡¡he

shrewdly¡¡foresaw¡¡the¡¡extensive¡¡uses¡¡to¡¡which¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡might¡¡be

applied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manufacture¡¡of¡¡tools¡¡and¡¡cutlery¡¡of¡¡a¡¡superior¡¡kind£»

and¡¡we¡¡accordingly¡¡find¡¡him¡¡early¡¡endeavouring¡¡to¡¡persuade¡¡the

manufacturers¡¡of¡¡Sheffield¡¡to¡¡employ¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡manufacture¡¡of¡¡knives

and¡¡razors¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡cutlers¡¡obstinately¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡work¡¡a¡¡material¡¡so

much¡¡harder¡¡than¡¡that¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡use£»¡¡and¡¡for

a¡¡time¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡all¡¡hopes¡¡of¡¡creating¡¡a¡¡demand¡¡in¡¡that¡¡quarter¡£

Foiled¡¡in¡¡his¡¡endeavours¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡his¡¡steel¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡Huntsman¡¡turned

his¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡foreign¡¡markets£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡soon¡¡found¡¡he¡¡could¡¡readily

sell¡¡abroad¡¡all¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡make¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡merit¡¡of¡¡employing¡¡cast¡­steel

for¡¡general¡¡purposes¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡French£»¡¡always¡¡so¡¡quick¡¡to

appreciate¡¡the¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡any¡¡new¡¡discovery£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the

whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡that¡¡Huntsman¡¡could¡¡manufacture¡¡was¡¡exported

to¡¡France¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fairly¡¡established¡¡his¡¡business¡¡with¡¡that

country£»¡¡the¡¡Sheffield¡¡cutlers¡¡became¡¡alarmed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡reputation¡¡which

cast¡­steel¡¡was¡¡acquiring¡¡abroad£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the

preference¡¡displayed¡¡by¡¡English¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡French¡¡consumers¡¡for¡¡the

cutlery¡¡manufactured¡¡of¡¡that¡¡metal£»¡¡they¡¡readily¡¡apprehended¡¡the

serious¡¡consequences¡¡that¡¡must¡¡necessarily¡¡result¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡trade

if¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡came¡¡into¡¡general¡¡use¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡then¡¡appointed¡¡a¡¡deputation

to¡¡wait¡¡upon¡¡Sir¡¡George¡¡Savile£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡members¡¡for¡¡the¡¡county¡¡of

York£»¡¡and¡¡requested¡¡him¡¡to¡¡use¡¡his¡¡influence¡¡with¡¡the¡¡government¡¡to

obtain¡¡an¡¡order¡¡to¡¡prohibit¡¡the¡¡exportation¡¡of¡¡cast¡­steel¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡on

learning¡¡from¡¡the¡¡deputation¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Sheffield¡¡manufacturers

themselves¡¡would¡¡not¡¡make¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡steel£»¡¡he¡¡positively

declined¡¡to¡¡comply¡¡with¡¡their¡¡request¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡fortunate¡¡for

the¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡that¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deputation¡¡was

defeated£»¡¡for¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Huntsman¡¡had¡¡very¡¡pressing¡¡and

favourable¡¡offers¡¡from¡¡some¡¡spirited¡¡manufacturers¡¡in¡¡Birmingham¡¡to

remove¡¡his¡¡furnaces¡¡to¡¡that¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡extremely¡¡probable¡¡that

had¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡cast¡­steel¡¡making¡¡become¡¡established¡¡there£»¡¡one

of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡important¡¡and¡¡lucrative¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡its¡¡trade¡¡would¡¡have

been¡¡lost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Sheffield¡£



The¡¡Sheffield¡¡makers¡¡were¡¡therefore¡¡under¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡using¡¡the

cast¡­steel£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡would¡¡retain¡¡their¡¡trade¡¡in¡¡cutlery¡¡against

France£»¡¡and¡¡Huntsman's¡¡home¡¡trade¡¡rapidly¡¡increased¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡began

the¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sheffield¡¡men¡¡to¡¡wrest¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡For

Huntsman¡¡had¡¡not¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡any¡¡patent¡¡for¡¡his¡¡invention£»¡¡his¡¡only

protection¡¡being¡¡in¡¡preserving¡¡his¡¡process¡¡as¡¡much¡¡a¡¡mystery¡¡as

possible¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡workmen¡¡employed¡¡by¡¡him¡¡were¡¡pledged¡¡to¡¡inviolable

secrecy£»¡¡strangers¡¡were¡¡carefully¡¡excluded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡works£»¡¡and¡¡the

whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡made¡¡was¡¡melted¡¡during¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡many

speculations¡¡abroad¡¡as¡¡to¡¡Huntsman's¡¡process¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡generally

believed¡¡that¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡consisted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flux¡¡which¡¡he¡¡employed¡¡to

make¡¡the¡¡metal¡¡melt¡¡more¡¡readily£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡leaked¡¡out¡¡amongst¡¡the

workmen¡¡that¡¡he¡¡used¡¡broken¡¡bottles¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the

manufacturers£»¡¡who¡¡by¡¡prying¡¡and¡¡bribing¡¡got¡¡an¡¡inkling¡¡of¡¡the

process£»¡¡followed¡¡Huntsman¡¡implicitly¡¡in¡¡this¡¡respect£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡would


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