Stainless Forgotten History: A Revolution in Steel

The discovery of stainless steel is usually attributed to English metallurgist Harry Brearly in 1913. But the history of the alloy that transformed industries goes back at least a century before. The History Guy remembers the forgotten history of stainless steel.

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As images of actual events are sometimes not available, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

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Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #steel

[jdo]

"History that deserves to be remembered" IS a classic line that really does exemplify what this channel is all about. Thank you for reminding us to remember the past.

[verdatum]

I _seriously_ geek out on the history of metallurgy. You can talk about metal all the live long day and I'll watch all of it. Great episode.

[vegascad]

My Grandfather worked for the company in Sheffield that Brearly worked for that went on to become Firth Vickers. My Father worked there for a short time before the outbreak of WWII but left England shortly after the war. I still have my Grandfathers watch that was given to him for 50 years loyal service at Firth Vickers. I work in the metal fabrication industry and use stainless in many applications. Thanks for your info on this as it is part of my families history as well.

[MrRecrute]

Love this man’s enthusiasm for his topic, as well as his comprehensive use of the English language in describing the topic.

[dieselcoondog]

An interesting trait I notice about those that respect history is a corresponding reverence and optimism about the future. So needed today.

[edwardg]

Anyone who can make stainless steel engaging deserves a subscription

[ryanrusch]

The History guy is truly one of the greatest, taking any and every form of history and bringing it to people directly!

[nicklewis]

As someone who has spent about 20 years in the welding profession, I can really appreciate the metallurgical information you put in this episode.

[samborez]

In ALL of my years of study and learning, I have never had a teacher as interesting, or as informative as THG!

[MrLoftyDreams]

I cannot believe you created an entire episode on stainless steel. I stainless steel, it is one of the most fascinating family of alloys out there. Thank you so much for making this available.

[grayhatjen]

Thank you for this. My grandpa was the foreman at the Warren, Pennsylvania Pitt-Des Moines (PDM) plant which fabricated 80% of the Arch. (The Pittsburgh PDM plant fabricated the rest.)

My cousins and I always thought of it as Grandpa's Arch because he was so proud to have worked on it. We only learned several years ago that he was the foreman. His men mentioned that he would be missed when they visited the Arch as a group in Nov of 2012.

Kenneth Wright said this around the time of their trip. To me, there's something so striking about these words. “At the time, it seemed like just another job. We never dreamed it would be this magnificent and this great of a thing.”

[freddyrosenberg]

It shows how messed up things are when a channel like this has 1/2M subs and crap channels have millions. Thank you for making these awesome vids.

[billk]

As a retired metallurgical engineer, I say, "Well done my good man!"

[markgbrown]

I watched this video to see the history of the Gateway Arch, but the history of stainless steel is fascinating!! Hard to imagine our world without it!!

[marktwain]

I tell my college students that this is the highest expression of metallurgy in the last 10, 000 years. You tell its history so thoroughly and passionately, History Guy! Well done!

[dreed]

My dad was an ironworker and one of his very first jobs was building the St Louis Arch.

[RICHARDWWERT]

As a wheelchair user with Cerebral Palsy who has had 2 stainless steel rods attached to my spine, I know its benefits well.

[harrisonhine]

For 37 years from 1947 - 1984 (until we sold it) our company used Stainless in the manufacture of Fishing Rod Hardware and Marine Hardware for Sailboats. The Stainless Steel Alloy 18-8, 18% chromium and 8% nickle was perfect for the saltwater environment of our products. We also used a process called Electro Polishing which was the reverse of plating and actually etched the surface of the Stainless Steel components to remove the iron from the surface making the parts even more resistant to corrosion.

[Seawizz]

HG, I don’t know how you can make subjects that seem so mundane on the surface so interesting at the core. Love your videos!

[jennlizzy]

Thanks for your continued excellence in presenting interesting and engaging history. It takes a rare talent to imbue excitement on a subject like stainless steel.