Chain hammer

In the chain forge iron links are welded into a chain. Forge welding is a solid-state welding process that joins two pieces of metal by heating them to a high temperature and then hammering them together. The chain hammer is made to weld the chains and have a purpose built hammer head and anvil.

This recording is made during a guided tour so there is a tiny little disturbance.

The chain forge in Olofsfors Iron Works is from the 1920s. and was in full operation untill 1960s. In the beginning the chain hammer was powered by a belt drive and a water turbine but in the 1930s. the turbine was replaced by an electric engine. The chains from Olofsfors were mostly used by the forest industry in northern Sweden.

Sound recordist: Torsten Nilsson
Photographer: Torsten Nilsson
Video recordist: Torsten Nilsson