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Powerhammers
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Power hammers
in one form or another have been part of the ironworking trade
for centuries. The direct steam powered hammers
proliferated in Europe through the 19th century. This 80 ton
hammer was displayed at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878. |
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Around the time
of the Civil War, American manufacturers developed the crank-activated
hammers as an alternative to the expensive direct- action steam
hammers. The lower cost and simplicity of these hammers
made them popular with the small country smiths. |
| Innovations by
manufacturers and blacksmiths themselves created countless
variation on the crank-activated design. The resurgence of
blacksmithing in the last several decades and the emergence of
the artist- blacksmith, rely heavily on hammers built a hundred
years ago by companies long since vanished. |
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