The Beginnings of Cheap Steel

The Beginnings of Cheap Steel, written by Philip W. Bishop in the mid-20th century, is a scholarly examination of the Bessemer process that transformed steel production in the mid-19th century. The book details the competition among inventors like Henry Bessemer, Joseph Gilbert Martien, and Robert Mushet, highlighting their contributions and the controversies surrounding their innovations. It explores the technological advancements in steel manufacturing from the 1850s onward, including patent disputes and the socio-economic impacts of these developments on industrialization.