Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-08-04
The Stolen secret---Iron and Steel.

The main distinction between iron and steel
is one holds carbon, or the matter of char
COAL whereas the other does not. The amount
of charcoal is trivial, and is impaired by heat
ing bars for long period together, surround
ed by powdered, broken charcoal in box
Having regard, then, to this operation, it
seems natural enough that the outer portion
of each bar should become more steeltfed (if
| may be allowed to coin an expressive wordl
than the internal portion. Now, steel of this
sort, though good for many purposes, is Oh.
jectiOnable for others To give an example,
it is by no means good for the manufacture of
watch springs nevertheless, before the inveu-
tion of cast steel, to which the readers atten-
tion is shortly to be directed watch springs
had to be made of it.
There lived in Attercliffe, near Sheffield,
about the year 1850, u matchmaker, named
Huntsman. He was very much dissatisfied
with the quality of steel of which watch
springs were made in his day, and set himself
to the task of thinking out the cause of in
feriOrity. Mr.. Huntsman consequently infer
red that the impcrfection of such watch springs
as came in his way was referable to the fact
OF the irregular conversion of Steeli lifcatiOu of
the metal OF their manufacture. II" thought
he, " can melt piece of steel and cast it in
to all iLgot, the composition of the latter
should be regular and homogeneous" He
tried and succeeded. The fame of Huutsmau's
steel became widely spread, but the diScoverer
took care not TO designate it by the name of
cast steel, under which it is now familiarly
known. This ,0aS his secret
About the year 1870 a large manufacture
OF this peculiar steel was established at After
clltfe. The process was wrapt in secrecy by
every means which the inventor could command.
None but workmen of credit and character
were engaged, and they were forbidden to dis
close the secret OF the mandatory by strin-
gent form of oath. At length Huntsmans
secret was stolen in the following manner -
One mid winter night, as the tall chimney of
the Attercffe steel works belched forth its
smoke, giving promise of a roaring fire within,
traveller, TO whom the desire OF placing him
self near a roaring fire might seem a reasona-
bic longing, Knocked at the outer door of Mr.
Huntsman's factory. 1t was a bitter cold
night the snow fell fast, and the wind howl
ed across the moor nothing, then, could seem
more natural than that the tired wayfarer should
seek warm corner where he might lay his
head. A workman presented himself, whom
IhC CoSSuJ uuulOlJ UeSBlHp du-
mission
No admittance here, except on business"
The reader may well fancy how this intimation
fell upon the tired travellers ear on such an
inclement night Bat the workman scanning
the traveller over and discovering nothing sus-
piciouS about him, granted the request, and let
him ill.,
Fegning to be completely worn out with
cold and fatigue, the wayfarer sank upon the
floor of the comfortable factory, and soon ap
peared to have gone to sleep. To go to sleep,
however, was far from his intention. The
traveller closed his eyes, all but two little
chinks. Through these two little chinks Le
saw all that he cared to see He saw workmen
cut bars of steel into little bits, place them in
crucibles, and with enormous ton5S pour their
liquid into a mould Mr. Huntsman'S factory
had nothing to disclose This was the secret
OF cast steel
1t wonlG be easy to extend the list of man
ufactured secrets disclosed in the dishonest way
indicated above London Leisure Hours