THE FIRST CASTING.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3686, 18 October 1880, Page 2

THE FIRST CASTING.

Cast iron is now in raoh general via that one might be apt to imagine that it had neTer been invented, bat like Topiy " had growed." Cast iron was not* i however in cdmmerciai use 1 before the year 170b, when Abraham Darby, an I intelligent mechanic, who had brought brought some • Dutch workmen to establish a brass foundry at Bristol, conoeired the idea that' iron might be , substituted for bras*. This hit woriimen did not succeed in effecting," being f>ro* bably too much prejudiced in' faror of the metal with which they <wer« best acquainted."" A Welsh shepherd boy named John Thomas had some 1 little time prerious to this been reeeired by Abraham - Darby into his workshop on the re* commendation of,, a. distant relative. -*, Whilst looking on daring the experi-t ments of the Dutch workmen, he -said v * to Abraham Darby that he thought ha saw where they had missed it. .He begged to be allowed to try, so he and Abraham Darby remained alone in the workshop all night straggling with the refractory metal and imperfect moulds. The hours passed on, and. daylight appeared, but neither would leave his task, and as the morning dawned they succeeded in casting an iron pot com* plete. The boy enteredinto an agreement with Abraham Darby to, serve him and keep the secret. He was enticed by the offer of double wages to leave his master, but he continued faithful, and from 1709 to 1828 the family of Thomas were confidential and much rained agents to the descendants of Abraham Darby. , ,