Huntsman, Benjamin

born 1704, Holland

died June 21, 1776, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Eng.

British inventor of the crucible process.

A clockmaker and instrument maker, Huntsman opened a plant in Sheffield с 1740, where he produced steel for clock and watch springs. His new process yielded cast steel more uniform in composition and freer from impurities than any previously produced. Sheffield steelmakers used the crucible process to achieve worldwide dominance in the production of tool and other high-quality steels.

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▪ English inventor

born 1704, Lincolnshire, Eng.

died 1776, Attercliffe, Yorkshire

      English inventor of crucible (crucible process), or cast, steel, which was more uniform in composition and more free from impurities than any steel previously produced. His method was the most significant development in steel production up to that time.

      A clockmaker and instrument maker in Doncaster, Yorkshire, Huntsman opened (c. 1740) a plant in Sheffield, where he produced steel for clock and watch springs. Considering his steel too hard, Sheffield cutlers would not use it until they discovered that continental European cutlery made from Huntsman's steel was superior to their products. While Huntsman maintained extreme secrecy at his foundry, he did not patent his process, and it was later copied by others.

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