Brian Schmult (Author)
IA. The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology
Volume: 42
Issue: 2
Pages: 5-22
A new analysis of existing furnace and archeological records over the entire smelting lifetime (from c. 1771 to 1883) yielded an improved estimate of the design of the blast machinery at Hopewell Furnace, a cold-blast charcoal iron furnace near Elverson, Pennsylvania. Of particular interest is an analysis of how the work of “bellows dressing” varies over time, which helps delineate significant changes in the blast machinery design. The current equipment, maintained as part of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, is a double-acting double-cylinder wood unit powered by a 22-ft. breast-type waterwheel. This is likely to have been converted in about 1838 from a single-acting double-cylinder wood unit powered by a similar wheel. This in turn may have been preceded by a ground-mounted unit that was removed before 1800. There is insufficient evidence to tell whether the original blast machinery was a wood cylinder or leather accordion type. Improved knowledge of the blast machinery design is important both for improved public interpretation and to better understand variations in furnace production.
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