Steam Hammer Collection

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron

James Nasmyths steam hammer erected in his foundry near Manchester in 1832. Artist: James Nasmyth
James Nasmyths steam hammer erected in his foundry near Manchester in 1832. The steam hammer was invented by the Scottish engineer and inventor James Nasmyth (1808-1890)

Stephenson's locomotive manufactory at Newcastle-On-Tyne: the steam-hammer, 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
Stephenson's locomotive manufactory at Newcastle-On-Tyne: the steam-hammer, 1864....night view of that portion of the forging department containing the Nasmyth steam-hammers

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, c1910
A photograph taken by Swindon photographer, William Hooper of the smiths shop in the Carriage and Wagon Works. A large steam hammer can be seen in the foreground attached to a stationary steam engine

Iron Ship Fitting at the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Iron Ship Fitting at the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, 1854. Metalworking in London during the Crimean War....preparation of engines of the Termagant, 620-horse power...To form the cranks on the shaft

Manufacture of the Armstrong Gun at Woolwich Arsenal: drawing down and welding the... 1862. Creator: W Thomas
Manufacture of the Armstrong Gun at Woolwich Arsenal: drawing down and welding the bars previous to coiling, 1862. An Armstrong gun was a uniquely designed type of rifled breech-loading field

Working with a small steam drop hammer, blacksmith shop, Santa Fe RR shops, Topeka, Kansas, 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Working with a small steam drop hammer at the blacksmith shop in the Santa Fe R.R. shops, Topeka, Kansas

Gun Manufacturer (engraving)
2801979 Gun Manufacturer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gun Manufacturer. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb)

Forging the anchor (colour litho)
3622165 Forging the anchor (colour litho) by Lacy, Charles John de (c.1860-1936) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Forging the anchor)

The Manufacture of Gun-Barrels, at Birmingham (engraving)
1625376 The Manufacture of Gun-Barrels, at Birmingham (engraving) by Read, Samuel (1816-83); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Manufacture of Gun-Barrels, at Birmingham)

James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer, with his steam-hammer (b / w photo)
3099641 James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer, with his steam-hammer (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer)

The story of iron (colour litho)
3099308 The story of iron (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The story of iron)

The Cutlers Feast at Sheffield (engraving)
1048969 The Cutlers Feast at Sheffield (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Cutlers Feast at Sheffield)

Nasmyths Steam Hammer at Work (engraving)
2799935 Nasmyths Steam Hammer at Work (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nasmyths Steam Hammer at Work)

James Nasmyths first steam hammer, 1842 (colour litho)
3100189 James Nasmyths first steam hammer, 1842 (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: James Nasmyths first steam hammer, 1842)

The late Mr James Nasmyth, Engineer, Inventor of the Steam-Hammer (b / w photo)
1627022 The late Mr James Nasmyth, Engineer, Inventor of the Steam-Hammer (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The late Mr James Nasmyth, Engineer)

Steam hammer (chromolitho)
1094013 Steam hammer (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Steam hammer. French educational card)

Punch cartoon: James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and inventor of the steam hammer (engraving)
6034995 Punch cartoon: James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and inventor of the steam hammer (engraving) by Sambourne, Edward Linley (1844-1910) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Punch cartoon)

Morrisons patent double acting steam hammer (engraving)
977915 Morrisons patent double acting steam hammer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Morrisons patent double acting steam hammer.); © Look and Learn

Stephensons Locomotive Manufactory at Newcastle-on-Tyne (engraving)
1613289 Stephensons Locomotive Manufactory at Newcastle-on-Tyne (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Stephensons Locomotive Manufactory at Newcastle-on-Tyne)

The 40-Ton Steam-Hammer at Work in Woolwich Arsenal (litho)
960489 The 40-Ton Steam-Hammer at Work in Woolwich Arsenal (litho) by Ward, Enoch (1859-1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: The 40-Ton Steam-Hammer at Work in Woolwich Arsenal)

Nasmyths patent steam hammer, 1844. Creator: Unknown
Nasmyths patent steam hammer, 1844. Diagram of the...novel machine, which has just been set to work at the Royal Dock-yard, Devonport [in Devon]

James Nasmyth, printers sample for the Worlds Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, 1888

A 19th century steam hammer or drop hammer, from Les Merveilles de la Science, pub. 1870
3588320 A 19th century steam hammer or drop hammer, from Les Merveilles de la Science, pub.1870. by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: A 19th century steam hammer or drop hammer)

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1952
This worker is operating a steam hammer in the Smith Shop. He is wearing the traditional leather apron to protect against hot metal and sparks

Steam Hammer Drop Hammer Power Hammer Steam Driven
19th century steam hammer, or drop hammer. Capable of striking with up to 100 tons of pressure, the one illustrated was the largest ever built up to that time

Nasmyths patent steam hammer, 1866. The steam hammer was invented by the Scottish engineer and inventor James Nasmyth (1808-1890)

Nasmyths steam hammer at work, (c1880). Artist: Roberts
Nasmyths steam hammer at work, (c1880). The steam hammer was invented by the Scottish engineer and inventor James Nasmyth (1808-1890)

James Nasmyths steam hammer, 1900. Artist: E Zimmer
James Nasmyths steam hammer, 1900. The steam hammer was invented by the Scottish engineer and inventor James Nasmyth (1808-1890)

James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and astronomer, 1877. Artist: Lock & Whitfield
James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and astronomer, 1877. Nasmyth is best known for his invention of the steam hammer. From Men of Mark

James Hall Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and inventor, (c1924). Nasmyth (sometimes spelled Nasmith, 1808-1890) was famous for his development of the steam hammer

Steam hammer being used in an ironworks, France, 1867

Le Creusot
A model of the Creusot steam hammer at the Paris Worlds Fair, 1878. It was built by Schneider and Co. in the French town of Le Creusot. (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer
James Nasmyth (1808-1890), Scottish engineer. Nasmyth was the son of a landscape painter in Edinburgh. Although his formal schooling finished when he was 12

Painting by James Nasmyth (1808-1890) of a steam hammer, which allowed large scale forging of metal, seen here in use in a factory. Nasmyth, a Scottish engineer, invented the steam hammer

John Fritz, American mechanical engineer
John Fritz (1822-1913), American mechanical engineer. Fritz was mainly concerned with iron and steel manufacturing. He was one of the first to use the Bessemer process for making cheap, pure steel

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During the height of World War II in 1942, a man and woman diligently carried out work on a steam hammer, their faces etched with determination. This powerful machine was not just any ordinary tool; it played a vital role in shaping the course of history. The No 14 Shop at Smiths Shop in c1910 served as the backdrop for this scene, where skilled workers harnessed the immense power of steam to forge weapons that would aid their comrades on the battlefield. In another corner of the world, specifically Santa Fe RR shops in Topeka, Kansas during 1943, we find ourselves amidst blacksmiths working with a small steam drop hammer. Jack Delano's lens captures these craftsmen meticulously crafting intricate pieces for gun manufacturers. The precision and artistry involved were evident as they engraved every detail onto gun barrels that would soon be entrusted to brave soldiers defending freedom. The importance of such machinery is further emphasized by vivid lithographs depicting scenes like "Forging the Anchor" and "The Manufacture of Gun-Barrels. " These images transport us back to Birmingham's bustling factories during an era when ironworking skills were highly revered. James Nasmyth himself, a Scottish engineer renowned for his contributions to industrialization, stands proudly beside his invention - the steam-hammer - immortalized forever through black-and-white photographs. As we delve deeper into history through captivating engravings like "The Cutlers Feast at Sheffield, " we witness how this revolutionary technology transformed entire industries. Nasmyth's Steam Hammer tirelessly pounded away at molten metal while sparks danced around it like fiery confetti celebrating progress and innovation. It was no wonder that James Nasmyth became synonymous with this groundbreaking invention; his first steam hammer from 1842 remains an iconic symbol of human ingenuity. Sadly, time has claimed many pioneers like Mr James Nasmyth himself; however, their legacy lives on through these remarkable photographs.