Materials · c. 1740

Huntsman crucible steel

Molten steel of even quality, for springs, blades and tools.

Benjamin Huntsman melted blister steel in clay crucibles in Sheffield around 1740. Sheffield became the world center for quality tool steel.

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 1

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

Output of key industries in England, 1270-1870 Latest: Coal: 3.77k index (1700=100) (1870) Source: Our World in Data