Iron has been used for about 4 thousand years, and this book is a complete description of how iron and steel have been made from earliest times to the twentieth century. It features countless clear black & white photographs and informative diagrams and illustrations that complement the informative text. Also it contains informative chapters on the various forms of iron, origins and early processes, steam power, expansions of industry, introduction of steel, and many more. This thorough and interesting text will be a worthwhile read for anyone interested in ironworking, metallurgy, or the old way of doing things.