Iron Worker Collection

Hot Work
Patrick Compagnucci

Empire State Building, New York City, New York, USA
Sculpture depicting construction of the Empire State Building; New York City, New York, United States of America

BUSN2A-00015
Villagers watching a blacksmith working at his forge, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

BUSN2A-00073
Iron foundry, circa 1803-1806. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Skilled craftsmen pause beside two pairs of elaborately decorated metal doors they have just made

DC Construction Scene
Washington, D.C.: August 23, 1962. An iron worker five stories up rides a precast concrete window for a building in Washington DC, with the Capitol Building framed in the background

PATERSON IRON COMPANY. Steamboat and railroad forgings at the Paterson Iron Company in Paterson, New Jersey. Lithograph, American, late 19th century

TIN PLATE MANUFACTURE. Bar iron being alternately forged (A) and hammered (B, C) into sheets (d, d, d) to be plated. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

RICHMOND: IRON WORKS, 1887. The Tredegar Iron Works on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Wood engraving, American, 1887

METALWORKER, 18th CENTURY. Sheet iron being cleaned and then dipped into molten tin. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

VICTORIA & ALBERT, 1846. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visiting an iron mine in Cornwall, England, September 1846. Wood engraving, 19th century

FRANCE: IRON FORGE. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

FRANCE: IRON-MAKING. Casting cold water on the bloom (Fig. 2) at the moment of hammering to assist in scaling off impurities. Line engraving, French, c1750

FRANCE: IRON FORGE, c1750. An open-hearth wrought-iron forge, fired with charcoal. Copper engraving, French, c1750

FRANCE: IRON MILL, c1750. A combination rolling and slitting mill, which flattens bar iron and slits the strips into rods. Line engraving, French, 18th century

FRANCE: IRON MILL, c1750. Two workmen bind rods into bundles for shipping, using the little forge in the background for working the bands. Copper engraving, French, 18th century

FRANCE: IRON FURNACE. A blast furnace. Copper engraving, French, 18th century

IRON WORKERS, c1340. English iron workers. Engraving after a manuscript illumination, c1338-44

FRANCE: IRON MANUFACTURE. Forging the bloom with a hammer driven by the great shaft (Y), bound in iron bands, which is the axle-tree of a water wheel outside the smithy

MUTSUHITO (1852-1912). Reign name Meiji. Emperor of Japan, 1867-1912. Europeans demonstrating their work before the young Emperor Meiji at the foundry of the arsenal at Yokosuka, Japan

BUSN2A-00262
Steel industry workers at the coke furnaces of Pennsylvania, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

BUSN2A-00256
Bessemer steel converter in a Pittsburgh steel mill, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EVRV2A-00208
Gunsmiths forging muskets for the Minutemen before the American Revolution, 1770s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration by Darley

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Skilled craftsmen pause beside two pairs of elaborately designed iron beams, their hard hats gleaming in the sunlight as they work on the iconic Empire State Building in New York City. The hot work involved in shaping and forging these massive structures showcases the expertise of these iron workers, who are part of a long-standing tradition dating back to the late 19th century. In a historic lithograph from that era, we catch a glimpse of the Paterson Iron Company in Paterson, New Jersey. Steamboat and railroad forgings take center stage, highlighting the vital role played by iron workers in constructing transportation infrastructure during this time. Traveling back even further to mid-18th century France, we witness an intricate process captured in a line engraving. Bar iron is meticulously forged and hammered into sheets before being plated – a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship required for tin plate manufacture. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean at Richmond's Tredegar Iron Works in Virginia circa 1887, wood engravings showcase another facet of iron working history. These images depict bustling scenes where molten metal is transformed into various industrial products under intense heat and pressure. The dedication and skill exhibited by these metalworkers throughout history are evident even as far back as 18th-century France. In one engraving, sheet iron is carefully cleaned before being dipped into molten tin – an essential step towards creating high-quality finished products. Iron working has not only shaped architectural landmarks like the Empire State Building but also attracted royal attention. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert themselves visited an iron mine in Cornwall during September 1846 – emphasizing its significance both industrially and culturally. Finally, returning to France once again through another line engraving from mid-18th century archives; we witness an intriguing technique employed during casting: cold water is poured onto freshly hammered blooms to assist with scaling off impurities - showcasing innovative methods used by skilled French artisans centuries ago.