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Nasmyth's Steam Hammer
An 1871 oil painting of a steam hammer invented by the Scotsman James Nasmyth (1808-1890) in 1839 during the Industrial Revolution. The steam-powered machine lowered a weight onto an anvil using gears which allowed for both precision and speed. The steam hammer allowed very large metal pieces to be forged and uniformly shaped, essential for large engineering projects like the construction of weapons, bridges, trains, and ships. Painted by the inventor himself.
Science Museum, London.