June 1878: Automation, metalworking and specialisation

An important change in the nature of the engineering industry in the UK was buried in an article about understanding how forging techniques influence the properties of metal articles
Edward Clarke’s pressure forging apparatus changed the shape of metal items gradually, preserving their strengthOne of the joys of ferreting through the Engineer archives is in stumbling upon an article that, while it appears prosaic from its heading and even the accompanying illustration, turns out on closer