1014 TIN-PLATES 



a handle about 4 feet long. This rough shovel, or holder, was called the ' portal,' 

 or the 'staff.' To re-heat this 'pile' in the chafery would bo a work of great 



2001 



cost and difficulty, and the brick hollow fire (as shown in figs. 1998 to 2003 ; figs. 

 1998 and 1999 being elevations, and figs. 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 sections) 



2C02 



was invented. This is, the writer believes, one of the inventions which, although 

 in work during the past fifty years, still points to very great improvements in 



the manufacture of iron. It is in 



.1.0.1,,,......,..., .."". LflJ. substance the plan of using the 



gases produced by the decompo- 

 sition of fuel for the working of 

 iron. 



The charcoal finery is also worked 

 by the use of the gases to a much 

 greater extent than is generally 

 known. The workman sends his 

 blast directly into the mass of iron, 

 and the charcoal seems to be simply 

 the means by which ho is better 

 enabled to manipulate the iron in 

 the finery, and keep it covered, so 

 as to revive the oxidised metal, and 

 thus prevent waste. A few hours spent with any intelligent workman at the side of 

 his charcoal finery would show the wasteful and expensive character of the so-called 

 new schemes for converting cast- into wrought-iron by the use of air alone. The 

 late belief in these schemes, by men of high repute and practical knowledge in the 

 trade is a direct proof of the deficiency in knowledge of exact science as at present 

 applied to the manufacture of iron. 



The pile was now placed in the hollow firo, and brought to a soft welding or 

 washing heat ; again hammered out to ' slabs.' 6 inches wide and three-quarters 



