The Eighty-Ton Steam-Hammer at Creusot

FOR a long time, especially in Europe, heavy pieces of forgings, such as cannon, armor plates, marine shafting, etc., have been steadily augmented in size, more particularly since steel has been substituted for wrought iron. To keep pace with these forgings several, very large hammers have been, from time to time, erected. The most powerful and thoroughly appointed of all now in operation is that designed and built by Messrs. Schneider & Co. at their works at Creusot, and it is the design of this communication to give to the members of the Institute a concise description of this remarkable piece of mechanism, which I have taken from an article published in the Annales Industrielles. This hammer is rated nominally at 80-tons power, but its capacity is, in reality, far greater, as will be seen by the comparative figures given later. The complete plant, comprising the hammer, the cranes, the furnaces, and the building which shelters the whole, is distin-