James Nasmyth (1808–1890): The steam hammer and the mechanics of Vee-anvil forging

Abstract

An outline biography of the Scotsman, James Nasmyth, whom the British credit with the invention of the Steam Hammer and which the French deny, is given first of all. The enterprising and talented Nasmyth was so commercially successful in hammer production that he was able to retire in his late 40s. Responding to challenge, he overcame ‘gagging’ in tilt hammers when forging large diameter paddle ship crank-shafts with his steam hammer; he seems also to have introduced the Vee-anvil, his intuition leading him to anticipate that it would promote internal soundness in forging which the flat anvil certainly did not. At length we consider the plasticity mechanics of these anvils and see in what manner Nasmyth's expectation was corroborated. As well we consider some of the associated defects which arise.