Creusot steam hammer facts for kids
The Creusot steam hammer was a huge machine built in 1877. It was made by a company called Schneider and Co. in the French town of Le Creusot. This amazing machine could hit with a force of up to 100 tons! For a while, it was the most powerful hammer in the world.
In 1891, a company in the United States called Bethlehem Iron Company built an even bigger hammer. It was almost the same design but could hit with 125 tons of force. Today, the Creusot hammer no longer works. It is a popular tourist attraction in Le Creusot. Since many other giant hammers have been taken down, the Creusot hammer is now one of the biggest of its kind left in the world.
In 1981, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized the Creusot steam hammer. They named it a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
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How the Creusot Steam Hammer Began
In 1836, two brothers, Joseph Eugène Schneider and Adolphe Schneider, bought an old iron factory. It was located in Burgundy, near Le Creusot. They started a company called Schneider Brothers & Co. This company later became Schneider & Co.
Just two years later, their company built France's first steam locomotive. This was a train powered by steam. Eugène Schneider and his main engineer, François Bourdon, then created something new. In 1841, they developed the world's first real steam hammer.
Between 1843 and 1867, Schneider & Co. built 110 steam hammers of different sizes. They used 26 of these hammers themselves. As their work became harder, they needed bigger and bigger hammers. Eventually, they realized they needed a truly enormous hammer.
The Creusot steam hammer was finished in 1877. It could deliver a blow of up to 100 tons. This made it much stronger than the previous record holder. That was a German hammer called "Fritz," which could hit with 50 tons of force. To celebrate this amazing machine, a full-size wooden copy of the Creusot hammer was made. It was shown at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1878.
What the Creusot Steam Hammer Looked Like
The Creusot hammer had four main parts. These were the foundation, the legs, the steam cylinder, and the heavy hammer part itself.
The anvil, which is the base that the hammer hits, weighed a huge 750 tons. To hold this weight and the powerful hammer blows, the machine's base was built very strong. It was made of solid stone resting on bedrock 11 meters (about 36 feet) underground. A thick layer of oak wood, one meter (about 3 feet) deep, was placed on top of the stone. This wood supported the giant anvil.
The hammer had four hollow legs. They were shaped like rectangles. These legs were originally bolted to metal plates in the stone base. The legs were 10.25 meters (about 33 feet) tall. They were connected at the top in a strong A-shape design. A 30-ton "table" joined them. This table guided the hammerhead and helped spread out the shock of its blows. One leg held the platform where the operator stood to control the machine.
The steam cylinder was 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall. Its inside was 1.9 meters (about 6 feet) wide. Steam pressure pushed the cylinder upwards. Then, gravity made the hammer fall and deliver its powerful blow.
The piston, which moved inside the cylinder, could travel up to 5 meters (about 16 feet). The rod connected to the piston was 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) wide. The hammerhead, or "tup," could be changed. Different shaped tools, called dies, could be attached. This allowed the hammer to hit with different forces, from 75 to 100 tons. The actual energy it delivered was very high.
Four separate furnaces provided steam for four nearby cranes. These cranes were used to move the huge 120-ton iron and steel blocks. These blocks were brought to the hammer for shaping. Six Bessemer converters made the steel for these blocks. A special railway line was built to carry them through the factory.
To give you an idea of its size, the biggest modern hydraulic forging presses can apply a force of about 80,000 tons.
Amazing Demonstrations
When the hammer was new, it sometimes showed off its amazing accuracy to the public. It could gently put a cork into a bottle. It could crack a nut without harming the nut inside. It could even tap a watch glass without breaking it. These demonstrations showed how precise these huge industrial machines could be.
When the Steam Hammer Was No Longer Needed
Over time, new machines replaced steam hammers. These were hydraulic and mechanical steel presses. These newer presses could apply force more smoothly. This helped create better quality products.
The giant American hammer that was bigger than the Creusot hammer was taken down by 1902. But the Creusot hammer was used for much longer. It worked for 54 years until it was finally retired in 1930.
A Tourist Attraction Today
In 1969, the Creusot hammer was taken apart. Then, it was put back together in the town square of Le Creusot. It no longer works. Instead, it stands as a tourist attraction. It reminds people of a time when technology was changing the world.
Images for kids
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Creusot steam hammer in Le Creusot
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The Creusot steam hammer at work in its original location
