I'm building up a collection of photographs of Sheffield old and new,
and I've taken a photo I'd like your help in identifying.
It stands on the grass between Ice Sheffield and the Arena and so I'm guessing it is something to do with Steel production.
Here is a picture of it http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/hockeybear/sheffield/monument.jpg
Thanks,
Dave..

could it be a sculpture of a Crucible??? Or maybe one left over from the steelworks?? I think they were used to melt the iron ore in to make the steel.

Yeah - looks like a crucible used for steel making.

The steel would be poured into these from the furnace and then transported in the crucible by crane to be tilted & poured into the ingots.

The hole you see on the side would be one of 2 that would provide a pivot to tilt & pour the steel.

The steel would be poured into these from the furnace and then transported in the crucible by crane to be tilted & poured into the ingots.



If it is in fact one of these and just used for transportation of molten metal, then it is called a "ladle" not a "crucible".

Looks like a charging basket to me. The bottom appears to have a clam shell affair and the vertical arms that start mid way, part of the opening mechanism.It would be be filled with its "charge" ( probably steel scrap ) and carried over the the open furnace and its contents dumped in for melting. Steel making ladle would looks a lot beefier and different at the bottom end.

Crucibles are much smaller ( look at the statues in Market Street in Meadowhell - they are carrying a crucible )

Yes it's a ladle, the molten steel was "tapped" from the furnace and poured into the ladle, this then ran over a pit where the molten steel was pored into moulds to make ingots. This location would be where the Brown Bayley Steelworks stood, so I assume it may have been used here. I used to work for Brown Bayley's in both the pits and on the Siemens open hearth furnaces in the early sixties. Next time I'm down there I will take a look.

I've just popped down to look at this "monument", now I'm not so sure what it is(was). Certainly does not look like the Ladles we used in the Open Hearth furnaces, also it was not the sort of scrap charger used for filling these types of furnace. If it was originally from Brown Bayley's then maybe it was from the Electric Arc melting shop. I would be interested to findout what this was used for.
Could not see any information in the close vicinity but noticed that they have built a staircase into the centre so you can go up inside to a viewing platform.

If it is in fact one of these and just used for transportation of molten metal, then it is called a "ladle" not a "crucible".

the crucibles were used to melt the steel in wern't they, but they only held a smallish amount.
That statue at Meadowhall is steel workers using crucibles.

Looks like a charging basket to me. The bottom appears to have a clam shell affair and the vertical arms that start mid way, part of the opening mechanism.It would be be filled with its "charge" ( probably steel scrap ) and carried over the the open furnace and its contents dumped in for melting. Steel making ladle would looks a lot beefier and different at the bottom end.

Crucibles are much smaller ( look at the statues in Market Street in Meadowhell - they are carrying a crucible )
You are quite correct it is a scrap "basket" still in use at Aldwarke melting shop to my certain knowledge.

Its a Bessemer Convertor.

See this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessemer_process

It looks more like a ladle than a Bessemer converter.

When we do find out what it is, maybe somebody should make a notice board to tell people? This is our history and it's important.

Its a Bessemer Convertor.

See this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessemer_process

This is a Bessemer Converter....

http://www.simt.co.uk/collections/collections-2-2.html

Can we please put this one to bed. It is a scrap basket, not a crucible, ladle, Bessmer converter or any other part of the steelmaking history of our town. Suggesting it is anything other than a scrap basket is just confusing people.

I'd like to second that - it's definitely a scrap basket. I used to be a project engineer at Stocksbridge melting shop so I've seen a few!

I asked this question a few months ago here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=178369).

I thought its was a ladle too - although its certainly a scrap basket at the moment. :)

I'd like to second that - it's definitely a scrap basket. I used to be a project engineer at Stocksbridge melting shop so I've seen a few!

I guess I must know you then:) I still work for the Big Steel Company (or whatever we're called this week) Although I have worked at Stocksbridge since the early 70s I now cover Aldwarke and Brinsworth as well.

Can we please put this one to bed. It is a scrap basket, not a crucible, ladle, Bessmer converter or any other part of the steelmaking history of our town. Suggesting it is anything other than a scrap basket is just confusing people.

You sure it's not a ladle? :hihi:

You sure it's not a ladle? :hihi:

:hihi: :hihi: Silly boy :D

Thanks for everyones help
I'm prepared to believe people who work in steel
so its a scrap bucket.
however I found this picture of a ladle....
http://www.ribapix.com/image.php?i=1567&r=2&t=4&x=1
ok ok its a scrap bucket.
Dave..

Thanks for everyones help
I'm prepared to believe people who work in steel
so its a scrap bucket.
however I found this picture of a ladle....
http://www.ribapix.com/image.php?i=1567&r=2&t=4&x=1
ok ok its a scrap bucket.
Dave..

If you look closely you will see the two things are in fact quite different the scrap basket is of much lighter construction and has a clamshell arrangement to allow whole bottom section to be opened when charging the furnace. The ladle on the other hand is of much more robust construction, it needs to be because its brick lined and has to carry the weight of a full load of liquid steel. The ladle is also flat bottomed, again to allow for the brick lining and has a single (or sometimes two) relatively small hole in the base to allow the steel to be "teemed" through the plug or gate control as can be seen in the photograph.