Major
achievements:
·
Many
improvements in the production of iron.
·
Use of
sound castings for cannon manufacture
·
Accurate
boring machine for cannon
·
Method
for making spiral drive grooves (rifling) to improve accuracy of cannon fire
·
Method
for producing accurate, truly circular cylinders for steam engines
·
Major
instigator of the use of cast iron for the Bridge at Coalbrookdale
·
Promoted
use of iron for barge manufacture
·
Promoted
use of railways for carrying his products down to the River Severn
·
Major
investor in copper mining and refining
·
Investor
in other industries including production of lead and chemicals
Paper address:
http://www.oldcopper.org/john_wilkinson.htm
