The Carron Ironworks.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 896, 10 April 1877, Page 3

The Carron Ironworks.

-■'■♦■ (' British Trade Journal.') The year 1760 is perhapß the most replete with Bi'gnificane in respect of the manufacture of iron in Scotland, for in that year the celebrated Carron Ironworks — which may claim to be the birthplace of the Scotch iron trade in its most important form— were erected on behalf of Dr John Roebuck, of Sheffield, William Caddell, of Cockenzie, Samuel Gurbet, of Preston pans, and others, by the eminent engineer, John bmeaton. The original contract of the Carron copartnery stipulated that the capital of the company should Rpt exceed 12,0002, but in 1771 an alteration was made by which the capital was raised to 130 000/., at once, and afterwards to 150,0001, in 600 shares of 250 Z. each. In 1773 these and other arrangements were legalised by a royal charter incorporating the company. In a few years these works became amongst the most famous, in Europe, and whilst they have been until now, when a step to march with the age is being commenced, conducted in an antiquated spirit, yet the several wares produced at these works continue to hold their own in all the leading markets of the world. Sir John Sinclair in his "Statistical Account of Scotland/ publisbod in 1782, describes the Carron Works as then consisting " of five blast furnaces, sixteen air furnaces, a clay mill for grinding clay and making fire* bricks for the use of the said furnaces, an engine that raises four tons and a half of water at one stroke, and, on an average, draws seven strokes per mmute. This engine goes in time of drought, and consumes sixteen tons of coal in 24 hours. Besides the coal consumed by the engine there are 120 tons, burned every day in the works and by the inhabitant* belonging to them. Besides the air furnaces there are three cupola furnaces that go by virtue of the blast furnace^ by pipei conyeyed from

c the machinery of the blasts ; their business is much the Bame with the air t furnaces. There are also four boring t guns, pipes, cylinders, &c. One of the t boring mills is adapted for turning the b guns on ths outside ; they hare" likewise a smiths- forges for. making the largest , anchors and anvils, as well as small work 5 of various kinds, besides a forge for b making malleable iron and a plating f forge, also a forge for stamping iron, the L hammer of which with the helve are both f of cast metal and weigh a ton and a half." * It is interesting to note that although I Carron acquired its reputation chiefly for > its pig iron manufacture and castings, it - is also the first place in Scotland where i malleable iron was made. Such was r Carron about eighty years ago, and, for i the time, no inconsiderable establishment ; ) indeed, a going concern of such magnitude t and turning out so great a variety of i manufactured goods testifies to the un- - tiring energy devoted to it by those who 1 pioneered and carried on the works. As , originally designed, they consisted of one ) blast furnace working with charcoal ; yet this was soon changed, and it was at , Carron that pit coal and clay and iron- , stone were first used, although, this is also claimed for the Wilsontown or ; Cleugh Works in Scotland, and down to 1788 the total make of pig iron in the country was but 1500 tons. The Carron Ironworks have been managed with a skilful conservatism, which has succeeded in keeping the outside world ignorant of those internal economics 41 which have been productive of so much commercial success, and one part of the system has, it is said, so operated that the workmen, as a rule, once located there, continue in the service of the company for a lifetime, and sometimes for successive generations. Thus, a staff of efficient handicraftsmen has been for long maintained. Division of labor is extensively applied throughout the works. When a boy enters on his apprenticeship he chooses or has chosen for him the branch of work which he is to follow, and to that he adheres through life, being Blowly but surely advanced as age increases. The works are situated on the Carron river, about two miles from Falkirk, the site being originally chosen on account of the abundant and convenient supply of water, whicb, before the days of Watt's engine, was essential for driving the blast cylinders, tilt hammers, lathes, &c. But in the course of time, as the establishment grew in dimensions, the water supply became deficient, and here was perpetrated that unpardonable blunder of erecting a large engine to pump back the water into the reservoirs after it had passed over the wheels, thereby enabling the water, at a great loss of effect, to Used over and over Pg-j^ , DB tead of using the engine to drire the blowing cylinders, &c, direct. But when this gigantic error was committed, the age wherein Joule, Thomson, Clausius, and Bankine had to prove the great doctrines now constituting the science of " energetics " had not arrived ; still it is surprising that one having the philosophic mind of Watt could have tamely witnessed such a miscalculated conception. This engine, one of the earliest of Watt's, has long since ceased to be employed ; and although it has been allowed to remain in its original position, nothing has been done to preserve it from decay, so that the venerable relic must soon pass out of existence altogether, its place having been supplied by a beam blowing engine, with a steam cylinder 6 feet in diameter, and 10 feet stroke, driving a blowing cylinder 104 inches in diameter. The company possess and work fot themselves extensive mines of coal, iron, and lime, some of which are in the immediate vicinity of the establishment. The raw material is brought in by a railway, which approaches close to the furnaces, and additional facility for carrying is afforded by a canal extending from the centre of the works to Grangemouth. For the conveyance of goods to the east and west, canal boats are employed. The company also own a fleet of steam vessels, whicb are chiefly occupied in carrying the productions of the foundry — such as stoves, grates, cooking ranges, boilers, potß, pan?, pipes, &c. — to London and Liverpool, where the company have extensive warehouses. Attached to the works is a farm of 400 acres ', and no fewer than five villages in the vicinitj are dependencies of the company, many of the houses having been built by them.! The works employ nearly 2.000 men and boys, whose labour is, as a rule, not affected by fluctuations in the markets, for when a temporary slackening of demand takes place the company go on making stock goods, and as a precaution against any contiogency that might interfere with the supply of raw material, an immense stock is always kept on band.