Publisher's Synopsis
Throughout history, the use and workmanship of metal has been used as a defining characteristic of civilization. Never was this more important than during the Metallurgic Age which coincided with England's Victorian Age and the Gilded Age in America. This period of 100 years, covering essentially the 19th century, saw unprecedented advances in a number of areas. This work explores in depth the connection between Victorian creativity and the advance of engineering. In many ways the entire mindset of the Victorian age revolved around invention and innovation. This new passion for technology and learning resulted in a period not only of discovery but practical application of the sciences. Intense interest of amateurs as well as professionals gave rise to numerous inventions, many of which were arrived at simultaneously often resulting in disagreements and patent battles. This volume examines this age of accelerated invention and the evolution of new fields such as metallurgy, automotive engineering, aerodynamics and industrial arts. The author discusses the ways in which metallurgy permeated all areas of Victorian life and affected changes - literally from the kitchen to the battlefield. Topics include the birth of scientific publications which provided direction for the inventors of the day and the inspiration received from international technological competition. Forgotten inventors, who were often lost historically due to the Victorian need to assign a winner to any contest, are remembered here along with the concept of the meta-invention. The final chapter provides an overview of inventions of the age.
