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can anybody suggest a good, entertaining (important!) book about the origins of steel?
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history of steel book?
- Thread starter ScottRoush
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- Jan 10, 2010
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no, no, no.... I was looking for 'history' - who, how, why, what impacts, etc. 
.... with mimimal metallurgy. Or only the metallurgy used by the early Iron-Agers.
.... with mimimal metallurgy. Or only the metallurgy used by the early Iron-Agers.- Joined
- Feb 29, 2008
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- 187
Assuming you are after the history of man's use of iron and steel and not the more narrow subject of metallurgy (although that is anything but dull and boring and I can suggest one I like best on that, too, especially good on hardening and tempering) here are some goodies:
Overview:
* The Forge and the Crucible by Mircea Eliade, traces the earliest beginnings.
* Non-Technical Chats on iron and Steel and their application to Modern Industry, by LaVerne W. Spring. This is available in paperback from Lindsay books (www.lindsaybks.com) Get their catalog for lots of other books on iron and steel and the working thereof.
Industrial development:
*American Iron 1607-1900, by Robert B. Gordon, eminently readable narrative of the industry in the U.S.
*A Nation of Steel The Making of Modern America 1865-1925, by Thomas J. Misa good stuff but scholarly, focussed on the industry and trends therein.
*The Epic of Steel by Douglas Alan Fisher, a public relations man for U.S. Steel. Comprehensive, smoothly readable.
* History of the British iron and Steel Industry from c. 450 B.C. to 1775 by H.R. Schubert, President of the Iron and Steel Industry. Incredible job of scholarship and good writing. As I recall, this has a photograph of what is believed to be first anvil (stone) and forge ever used on Blighty. If you buy this, check to be sure it comes with the color reproduction of the painting of the ironworking village tipped into the liner.
The Smith's Craft:
*Blacksmiths' and Farriers' Tools at Shelburne Museum, long out of print last I knew, is an encyclopedic volume of detailed info and great snaps of all sorts of the old-time tools you should snag at whatever cost when you find them at flea markets and garage sales. They have not changed much if at all since Roman times.
*Southwestern Colonial Ironwork the Spanish Blacksmithing Tradition from Texas to California by Marc Simmons and Frank Turley. Simmons is the New Mexico state historian and Turley has taught blacksmithing and tool making at his Santa Fe forge since the 1960s, has served as a conservator to the state historical museum. Detailed, well-illustrated, loaded with info you won't find anywhere else. Recently brought out again after a long time out of print.
You can probably track these down at ABE Books http://www.abebooks.com/ or Oz http://www.campusi.com/ Their URL has changed but this will get you there, often with better prices.
Overview:
* The Forge and the Crucible by Mircea Eliade, traces the earliest beginnings.
* Non-Technical Chats on iron and Steel and their application to Modern Industry, by LaVerne W. Spring. This is available in paperback from Lindsay books (www.lindsaybks.com) Get their catalog for lots of other books on iron and steel and the working thereof.
Industrial development:
*American Iron 1607-1900, by Robert B. Gordon, eminently readable narrative of the industry in the U.S.
*A Nation of Steel The Making of Modern America 1865-1925, by Thomas J. Misa good stuff but scholarly, focussed on the industry and trends therein.
*The Epic of Steel by Douglas Alan Fisher, a public relations man for U.S. Steel. Comprehensive, smoothly readable.
* History of the British iron and Steel Industry from c. 450 B.C. to 1775 by H.R. Schubert, President of the Iron and Steel Industry. Incredible job of scholarship and good writing. As I recall, this has a photograph of what is believed to be first anvil (stone) and forge ever used on Blighty. If you buy this, check to be sure it comes with the color reproduction of the painting of the ironworking village tipped into the liner.
The Smith's Craft:
*Blacksmiths' and Farriers' Tools at Shelburne Museum, long out of print last I knew, is an encyclopedic volume of detailed info and great snaps of all sorts of the old-time tools you should snag at whatever cost when you find them at flea markets and garage sales. They have not changed much if at all since Roman times.
*Southwestern Colonial Ironwork the Spanish Blacksmithing Tradition from Texas to California by Marc Simmons and Frank Turley. Simmons is the New Mexico state historian and Turley has taught blacksmithing and tool making at his Santa Fe forge since the 1960s, has served as a conservator to the state historical museum. Detailed, well-illustrated, loaded with info you won't find anywhere else. Recently brought out again after a long time out of print.
You can probably track these down at ABE Books http://www.abebooks.com/ or Oz http://www.campusi.com/ Their URL has changed but this will get you there, often with better prices.
