01-25-2008, 09:02 PM
There is very little evidence for Roman smithing; a hand full of anvils, sculpture and painting and mosaics of forging, only a very few show or hnt at a bellows; many tools (hammers, tongs..) , then there are some Greek vase paintings. Some literay sources describe "great" bellows. I believe that here are references to water driven bellows.
For a modest depiction the double bladder iron age bellows is a good choice.
For moving serious amounts of air, depends upon what kind of forging you want to do... that's why we defaulted to a later period design. The shape is OK for Roman, but the internal double chamber mechanism of the bellows may not be. I'm building two more bellows set ups.. one uses 2 one metre double bellows similar to what's depicted above (they'll be stand mounted) and a piston bellows similar to Roman water pumps.
For a modest depiction the double bladder iron age bellows is a good choice.
For moving serious amounts of air, depends upon what kind of forging you want to do... that's why we defaulted to a later period design. The shape is OK for Roman, but the internal double chamber mechanism of the bellows may not be. I'm building two more bellows set ups.. one uses 2 one metre double bellows similar to what's depicted above (they'll be stand mounted) and a piston bellows similar to Roman water pumps.
Hibernicus
LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA
You cannot dig ditches in a toga!
[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA
You cannot dig ditches in a toga!
[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
