Nasmyth's Steam Hammer

Nasmyth's Steam Hammer

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Nasmyth steam hammer, by James Nasmyth, Patricroft, Salford, Manchester, England, 1845-1855. It was installed at the Royal Mint until 1933.

The steam hammer was a tool for shaping large pieces of wrought iron. By 1839, when James Nasmyth devised the steam hammer, the increasing scale of nineteenth century engineering was outstripping available forging techniques. The tool was a direct response to these new demands and one intended application was forging the huge paddle shaft planned for Brunel’s steamship Great Britain. Although the Great Britain was altered during building to use screw propulsion rather than paddles, the hammer was completed in 1843 and found a wide range of uses.

Nasmyth was a highly talented machine builder, but he did not invent the steam hammer, nor was he the first to build one. In 1843, an acrimonious dispute arose between him and the engineer François Bourdon from the famous Le Creusot ironworks as to who was first with the idea. However, Nasmyth’s ability as a self-publicist managed to obscure the origins of the invention. He promoted the new tool with energy, usually attending in person at the starting-up of a new hammer, or showing that it was so controllable that it could merely crack the top of an egg placed in a wine glass.

This hammer is a small version of the giant machines Nasmyth built for heavy engineering and was installed in the workshops of the Royal Mint, where it was used in the making and maintenance of machinery and tools.

Details

Category:
Hand and Machine Tools
Object Number:
1933-520
Materials:
steel (metal) and cast iron
Measurements:
overall: 2400 x 2200 x 1600 mm (estimated)
anvil: 1200 mm (estimated)
anvil block: mm
type:
steam hammer
credit:
HM Office of Works

Parts

Nasmyth steam hammer

Nasmyth steam hammer

Nasmyth steam hammer, by James Nasmyth, Patricroft, Salford, Manchester, England, 1845-1855. Probably the earliest steam hammer. It was installed at the Royal Mint until 1933. Consisting of the component parts: - Anvil block, Anvil, Bedplate, two Standards (with maker's name and with lead stop-block attached - to which control gear attaches), Cylinder with valve chests, piston & rod, valve spindles and lubricators, Tup, with wiper cam and trip lever with wooden tappets and the Control gear assembly.

More

James Nasmyth invented the steam hammer in 1838 to forge the paddle shafts for SS Great Britain. In the end, the ship had propellers rather than paddle wheels, but Nasmyth's invention, renowned for both its power and its control, went on to play a key role in many large engineering projects.

Materials:
cast iron and steel (metal)
Object Number:
1933-520 Pt1
type:
hammer - tool
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Components from Nasmyth steam hammer

Components from Nasmyth steam hammer

Components from Nasmyth steam hammer, c. 1850 (Installed at Royal Mint) consisting of two 3/4-inch diameter by 2-inch long hexagon headed bolts.

Object Number:
1933-520 Pt2
type:
steam hammer