During his life of 84 years he had many careers and technological
achievements. They included production of the
first rolled copper sheets in the US, production of the first cast bell in
Boston, and being a major supplier of copper for the US Navy fleet which
included nails, bolts, spikes and sheathing.
During
the Revolutionary War, Paul Revere cast cannons from iron and brass for
the army. After the Revolutionary War, in 1788, he built a furnace on the
tip of North Boston Harbour. The furnace was used to make copper spikes,
bolts and other ship fittings for American boats.
After
a few years, the foundry was used to cast copper alloy bells. Up until
that time, the technology to cast bells with good tonal quality was not
present in the US and bells were imported from England. With the help of
two experienced bell casters, Paul Revere cast the first bell in Boston in
1792. Revere cast a total of 398 bells in the North Boston Foundry and
many of the Revere bells still hang in and around Boston today. The bell
for King's Chapel in Boston was cast in the North Boston Foundry, it
w eighed 2,437 lb. and is still used today.
The
American Navy was born in 1792, copper and copper alloys were needed in
the shipbuilding industry. Copper bolts, spikes, dovetails, and nails were
used to make a ship seaworthy. Copper was also used to sheath the hulls of
wooden boats, the sheathing prolonged the life of the vessel, enabled it
to go faster and prevented the growth of barnacles. When iron bolts
supplied for the USS Constitution were found defective due to rust, Paul
Revere replaced the rusted iron bolts with copper bolts. Next, Revere
supplied the US Navy with sheathing. Copper was in great demand by the
Navy, and Paul Revere was there to meet the Navy's needs.
During
the late 18th century, the domestic copper supply was very limited.
Therefore all the copper sheet used to make the sheathing was imported
from England. By 1800, Paul Revere had discovered the secrets to rolling
copper, he was now 65 years old. On October 24, 1801, Paul Revere rolled
the first copper sheets in the US. He was able to refine 1800 lbs. of
copper at one time using only wood for fuel. He could supply the US Navy
with quality copper sheathing that was rolled in the US.
In
addition to rolling copper sheathing for ships, Paul Revere made sheathing
for the new State House in Boston. The State House required 7675 lbs. of
copper sheathing and 789 lbs. of copper nails, at a cost of $4,232. The
roof of the State House in Boston lasted 100 years. The New York City Hall
dome was also sheathed with Revere copper.
By
1804 Paul Revere was the accredited head of the copper industry in the US
and by 1812 he was supplying three tons of copper per week, most of it
going to the US Navy.
For full version see: http://64.90.169.191/innovations/1998/03/revere.html
