Forge And Furnace Of The Future

The opinión is espressed by u wrïter in Tho Mechanical Ni th il th'e forge and fumace of the future will coasistof a lead lined glass or porcelain vase, or cupola. fllled wíth cold acidiried water, to which is connected a strong positive conductor, the fcrgo and outfit beiug rendered complete by a pair of to:gs with insulated handles attached to a flexible negative conductor According to this plan, the smilh seizes the piece of iron which is to be manipoilated with the insulated tongs and pluuges it into the sour water, which begins to boil and bnbble the instant it comes in con tact with the iron, the latter, in a remarkably short spa-ce of time, tnrning to a red and then to a white heat, ready for the work of the smith. So rapidly indeed is the heating done by this raeans that the water and the portion of the iron not immersed in the water are but elightly warmed. The principie involved in this process isof a simple and well known character - resistance producing the light and heat - it being found that enormous heat can be produced by such a method, much greater, in fact, than is necessary to extract iron from the most refractory ores. It is remarked that the value of such a process will be especially exhibited in the more complete and rapid handling of heavy iron and steel plates and bars requiring to be hammered and welded - more valuable still for tempering purposes, as the necessary heat for the immersed portion oan be so quickly obtained, while the remaining portion holds comparatively cooL