564 
Report of the Judges of Implements at Norwich. 
the Society being held at Norwich was at the stand of Messrs. 
Ransome, namely, a large gold ploughshare, surrounded with 
varieties of the chilled ploughshares which they have made for so 
many years. This patent chilled share was invented by Robert 
Ransome, the founder of the firm, in the year 1803. Air. Ran- 
some had long paid his attention to the improvement of the 
ploughshare, and when at his small foundry at Norwich, in 
1785, he took out his first patent for tempering the common 
cast-iron ploughshare, which at that time was made of the 
ordinary metal, and of the same hardness throughout. 
Mr. Ransome's object was to harden the edge of the cast- 
iron ploughshare, so that it would last much longer. This first 
improvement was obtained by saturating with salt-water those 
portions of the mould which came into contact with the cutting- 
edge of the share, so that the iron, coming into contact with 
these, might be hardened. This improvement was brought to a 
climax in 1803 by his invention of casting the hot metal on iron, 
instead of on sand-moulds, which crystallized the under-surface of 
the share, rendering it harder than steel, at the same time leaving 
the upper part soft, so that in wear it would maintain its sharp 
cutting-edge. This process, invented by Mr. Ransome 82 
years ago, has been in constant use ever since, not only by the 
Ransomes, but by all makers of chilled ploughshares, and many 
millions of shares have been sold, — I dare not say how many 
millions of acres have been ploughed since that day with these 
patent shares. 
The saving to the agricultural community has been very 
great, as the price of the shares is not only much less than that 
of the wrought-iron shares which they superseded, but as the 
great loss of time which was formerly caused every day by 
doing-up these wrought-iron shares at the blacksmiths has been 
avoided. 
Chilled-iron has been put to a great many uses ; for making 
chilled-shot, chilled railway-crossings, chilled-bearings, and 
many other purposes, but none have such interest to farmers 
than this very application to plough-shares ; and Mr. Ransome's 
early connection with Norwich, upwards of 100 years ago, made 
this a very appropriate exhibition at this Meeting. 
In conclusion, I beg, on behalf of myself and my fellow 
Judges, to express our best thanks to Mr. F. S. Courtney for 
his valuable assistance given us in mechanical questions ; and 
especially to the Stewards, Sir John Thorold, Mr. Little, and 
Mr. Hemsley, who were most attentive, and so readily rendered 
every assistance towards facilitating our work. 
