Challenging the times of technical innovation: the traditional production of musket balls after the introduction of shot towers

NICOLÁS C. CIARLO; ANA CASTELLI

Conferencia; Historical Metallurgy Society Annual Conference: Metallurgy in warfare, a spur to innovation and development; 2014

Lead shot production experienced a radical change during the last quarter of 18th century with the introductionof shot towers, patented by William Watts from Bristol in 1782. They were developed to replace the precedingmethod, which consisted in pouring molten lead into molds. Nonetheless, despite the success and expanding useof Watts? invention in England and the rest of Europe, the previous practice withstood in some manufacturingcenters for decades. Based on historical and archaeological research, the underlying drivers of the innovationprocess were explored. The analyses performed provided a more accurate picture of the technological changesassociated with weaponry during late 18th to early 19th centuries