cast steel
method, process, technology
Steel that is cast into semi-finished products during the manufacturing process and later formed through forging and machining.
The term was introduced mainly to differentiate cast steel from castable but not malleable cast iron and from wrought iron obtained through puddling, which can be wrought but is not castable. The term also distinguishes cast steel from steel castings since cast steel is not cast into its final form.
The watchmaker Benjamin Huntsman, the grandfather of Francis Huntsman, is regarded as the inventor of cast steel. Huntsman came from Sheffield in England, which is why this type of steel became known as ‘English steel’. Huntsman developed a process in 1740 in which blister steel could be smelted in fireproof crucibles and thus slag residues could be removed. The product was called cast steel.
Johann Conrad Fischer was the first to successfully produce crucible steel in the Mühlental near Schaffhausen in 1806 (Gnade/Schib, p. 40); he is therefore considered to be one of the pioneers of cast steel manufacturing in Continental Europe.
Also known as crucible steel from his method of manufacture.
Traveljournal 1814
- An outing to Chaillot, 16 August 1814
- Making the acquaintance of Philippe Gengembre, 17 August 1814
- Dover–London, 21–22 August 1814
- Rolled spring steel from Schaffhausen, 26 August 1814
- First encounter with malleable cast iron in Birmingham, 30 August 1814
- Sheffield and Rotherham, 5 September 1814
- Visits to factories in Sheffield, 6 September 1814
- Making the acquaintance of Francis Huntsman, 6 September 1814
- Return to Schaffhausen, 18–22 September 1814
- Exploring the Black Country on horseback with James Watt, 29 August 1814
Traveljournal 1825
- Schaffhausen–Audincourt, 26–30 May 1825
- Interesting wire drawing plant, 14 June 1825
- Leeds–Sheffield, 29 June 1825
- Further factory visits in Sheffield, 30 June 1825
- Visit to a rolling mill and a refining forge, 2 July 1825
- Business meeting in Birmingham, 4 July 1825
- Visit to Brunel’s sawmill, 16 July 1825
- Paris–Schaffhausen, 22-26 July 1825
Traveljournal 1825–1827
Traveljournal 1845
Traveljournal 1846
- Brande’s letter to Fischer
- Schaffhausen–Ostend, 15–17 October 1846
- Fischer enjoys two “Sandwitchers” in London, 19 October 1846
- A visit to the photographic pioneers Willat and Croucher, 20 October 1846
- Fischer has his likeness taken, 24 October 1846
- Fischer shows Huntsman a picture of his works, 27 October 1846
- A visit to the works of Cammell and Sanderson in Sheffield, 30 October 1846
- Fischer, Johann Conrad: Tagebücher. Bearbeitet von Karl Schib. Schaffhausen 1951.
- Gnade, Rudolf/Schib, Karl: Johann Conrad Fischer 1773–1854. Aus der Schriftenreihe zum hundertfünfzigjährigen Bestehen der Georg Fischer Werke. Schaffhausen 1954.