Preserved at Fontenay is the first foundry, that is, the first factory given to the casting of metals. Its central feature is its hydraulic hammer, driven by a water wheel, which hammered the iron into the desired shapes...nails, horseshoes, and such. Pretty cool. So how many of your other websites take you in one swell foop from spiritual to metallurgical?!
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| The foundry building, 13th century; nearly as large as the abbey church |
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| Nails and spikes |
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| A horseshoe (left); and the ore it comes from |
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| The hammer |
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| Bellows |
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| Significance of it all...first metallurgical factory in Europe and site of the invention of the hydraulic hammer, which "became the basis of industrial manufacturing of iron in Europe" |
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| Shaft driving the hammer |
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| Helpful working model of it all |
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| Expansion of the idea throughout the continent |
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| Parts list; thankfully, Ikea was not involved |
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| The water wheel |
1 comment:
The Professor thought this was very interesting.
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