Blaenavon Company

[Dannemois]

Can anyone please explain what the work of 'pitman at the Bessemer' entailed. 

[suzard]

normally a pitman is another ame for coal miner but in this case I think it is something different

This is information from my husband -not looked up on the internet -but it may give you some idea of where to look for further research

Bessemer was the name of a Steel works
Bessemer was a process where heat flames converted iron to steel and there would be a pit underneath to catch the steel
so possibly a "pitman" would be connected to this type of work

Will post if I discover more

Suz

[youngtug]

https://youtu.be/dypdoLm4Rn8

https://youtu.be/_kSp5K70cYc

[suzard]

also if you put Bessemer process or Sir Henry Bessemer into a search engine you will get more information

Suz

[Dannemois]

Hi Suz
My initial guess was the pitman fed the bessemer with coal? but as the person was described as steel worker by the enumerator on two consecutive census I thought I would pose the question.  I realised he was involved in the making of steel and wondered what he actually did.

[youngtug]

No coal used in a bessemer converter. The name was from Henry Bessemer who developed the process. You put iron in and get steel out. [plus slag]

I was wrong about the coal, prior to the use of gas it was used to preheat the converter.

[ScouseBoy]

Blaenavon   is the name of  a place in South Wales   which  is home to a coal mining museum   called "The Big Pit"

[ScouseBoy]

Can anyone please explain what the work of 'pitman at the Bessemer' entailed.

Please give us more information   about  the date  when you  are enquiring about?

And the name  and address   of the person. please?

[youngtug]

Iron ore was also mined at Blaenavon and processed; http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1395