Mandara mountains tabouka - Page 2

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 05:34 PM

David what marvelous research thank you.
I can see how even in the latter part of the 19th century a region with centres like this would have smiths with gas equipment. Somehow one thinks of these things stuck in aspic, but why should they not want to keep up with technology in there way. It is amazing thinking of a trade caravan laden with gas bottles, why not!

Robert · 15th December 2007, 05:51 PM

They would have most likely carried carbide instead of gas bottles. The early acetylene tanks worked like a miners lamp. They would drip water on carbide pellets to produce the acetylene gas needed for welding.

Robert

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 05:59 PM

According to this low pressure torches were available from 1900. That would fit with my idea of the age of the sword. It could be older? we all have at least one 19th century piece that looks unused. I like the resourcefulness of Roberts suggestion very African.

http://www.datakey.org/gawdajournal/3q05/equipment.php3

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2007, 06:09 PM

I have said this before but I quote Pliny again "there is always something new comming out of Africa"

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2007, 03:39 PM

This information suggests that traditional smelting came to an end around the turn of the 19th early 20th century, particularly in the last section. I would expect new tools also became available. Fascinating, wish I could get of hold of these videos. I think I have been a lucky chap.
http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~ndavid...age/video.html

I have sent an email to ask about getting copies and maybe in DVD form.

Jeff Pringle · 16th December 2007, 03:51 PM

Here is a link to a film from 1937 on the traditional iron smelting of the Ovambo in Angola, goes through the entire many-days long process:
http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Er...elt_index.html
One of the few examples of the pre-trade steel process out there.

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2007, 04:01 PM

Nice onr Jeff, thanks for the help.

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2007, 06:07 PM

Finally watched the video in full. Thanks again Jeff, I have quite a sword.

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2007, 08:26 PM

Robert you may be right about the dripping water. How one would have used the gas created I do not know but that is the genius in simple processes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylene

It has just come to me like a bolt of lightening. They make licquid Acetylene then use a low pressure primus stove type of torch simple. How dumb am I

. The sword could be 19th century. Skilled work

.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2007, 05:55 PM

I have been trying to find pictures of a primitive welding set up gas or petrol. You could pressurise the home made acetylene or petrol in a pump up tank. Air supplied by double bellows nothing new there. The torch might be more of a problem but I would have thought an adaption could be made to a blow torch or as they are known in the UK blow lamp. Googleing the history of welding gives dates but does not elaborate on any early welding kit. Any help please.

Robert · 17th December 2007, 06:43 PM

Hi Tim,
The link you posted above has a picture of an acetylene generator on it. The picture is on the right and is captioned as (Early Portable Generator, Circa 1929). I'm trying to find a picture of an early torch. Will post if I find one.

Robert

16th December 2007, 03:39 PM	#35
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	This information suggests that traditional smelting came to an end around the turn of the 19th early 20th century, particularly in the last section. I would expect new tools also became available. Fascinating, wish I could get of hold of these videos. I think I have been a lucky chap. http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~ndavid...age/video.html I have sent an email to ask about getting copies and maybe in DVD form. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th December 2007 at 03:52 PM.

16th December 2007, 08:26 PM	#39
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Robert you may be right about the dripping water. How one would have used the gas created I do not know but that is the genius in simple processes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylene It has just come to me like a bolt of lightening. They make licquid Acetylene then use a low pressure primus stove type of torch simple. How dumb am I . The sword could be 19th century. Skilled work . Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th December 2007 at 08:41 PM.

17th December 2007, 05:55 PM	#40
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I have been trying to find pictures of a primitive welding set up gas or petrol. You could pressurise the home made acetylene or petrol in a pump up tank. Air supplied by double bellows nothing new there. The torch might be more of a problem but I would have thought an adaption could be made to a blow torch or as they are known in the UK blow lamp. Googleing the history of welding gives dates but does not elaborate on any early welding kit. Any help please. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 17th December 2007 at 07:45 PM.

15th December 2007, 05:34 PM	#31
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	David what marvelous research thank you. I can see how even in the latter part of the 19th century a region with centres like this would have smiths with gas equipment. Somehow one thinks of these things stuck in aspic, but why should they not want to keep up with technology in there way. It is amazing thinking of a trade caravan laden with gas bottles, why not!

15th December 2007, 05:51 PM	#32
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	They would have most likely carried carbide instead of gas bottles. The early acetylene tanks worked like a miners lamp. They would drip water on carbide pellets to produce the acetylene gas needed for welding. Robert

15th December 2007, 05:59 PM	#33
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	According to this low pressure torches were available from 1900. That would fit with my idea of the age of the sword. It could be older? we all have at least one 19th century piece that looks unused. I like the resourcefulness of Roberts suggestion very African. http://www.datakey.org/gawdajournal/3q05/equipment.php3

15th December 2007, 06:09 PM	#34
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I have said this before but I quote Pliny again "there is always something new comming out of Africa"

16th December 2007, 03:51 PM	#36
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Here is a link to a film from 1937 on the traditional iron smelting of the Ovambo in Angola, goes through the entire many-days long process: http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Er...elt_index.html One of the few examples of the pre-trade steel process out there.

16th December 2007, 04:01 PM	#37
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Nice onr Jeff, thanks for the help.

16th December 2007, 06:07 PM	#38
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Finally watched the video in full. Thanks again Jeff, I have quite a sword.

17th December 2007, 06:43 PM	#41
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Tim, The link you posted above has a picture of an acetylene generator on it. The picture is on the right and is captioned as (Early Portable Generator, Circa 1929). I'm trying to find a picture of an early torch. Will post if I find one. Robert