ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to analyse Thomas Tredgold's writings on cast iron mainly from the angle of a practising user of the 1820s. The bulk of his knowledge of cast iron, whether published elsewhere or not, is embodied in his book Practical Essay on Cast Iron. 1 This book provides the framework of the present paper. Having stated in his title that the essay is 'practical' Tredgold says that it is 'for the assistance of Enginee~. iron masters, architects, millwrights, founders, smiths and othe~ engaged in the construction of machines, buildings, etc.' The question is whether, for cast iron, he was writing the equivalent of Charles Reynolds Reinforced concrete designers' handbook or the prototype of the modem steel section book or a code of practice or a series of state of the art reports. The answer must be a little of each.