Springburn Virtual Museum

Railway industry

Group of workers operating large steam hammer in Cowlairs forge, 1914

Parts which had to be forged, such as axles, were made in the smithy or forge, where hand or steam hammers pounded the iron into shape.

Wheels were assembled from various parts - the boss or centre, the spokes and the rim. These were pressed together in a hydraulic press with a total squeeze of 850 tons.

In this group of workers operating the large steam hammer in Cowlairs forge, the third man from the right in the photograph was deaf and dumb. Co-ordination between workers was essential for safe and efficient working, but the noise of the hammer meant that experience and signals were more important than speech.

Source: Glasgow City Archives