Tools & manufacturing · c. 1840

Steam hammer

A steam-driven hammer forges huge iron pieces with control.

James Nasmyth designed the steam hammer in 1839, and the first was built around 1840. It forged ship shafts and large parts too big for any water-powered hammer.

See it in the living tree Wikipedia

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 2

Puddling 1784
Watt steam engine 1776

Related measurements

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