South Yorkshire Times October 18 1947

Speedier Steel Melting
Kilnhurst Firms Pioneer Work

An article on the use of instruments on open hearth steel melting furnaces contributed by Mr R.C.Baker, A.Met. A.I.M., Melting Shop Manager at Messrs John Baker and Bessemer Ltd, Kilnhurst, to the September issue of the “Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute,” affords an illustration of the progressive technical policy of this South Yorkshire firm, and at the same time constitutes an example of the close integration of research work in the steel industry.

It is clear that in this respect at any rate nationalisation could not bring about a greater pooling of technical information than already exists within the industry.

The open hearth furnace at Messrs Baker and Bessemer was installed in 1938. The firm have themselves added the control instruments, thus providing for an all automatic melting process.

Interest in the experiment in the research section of the industry has been such that a recent research course held at Sheffield University provided for a visit by the members to Messrs Baker and Bessemer’s works, where the plant was inspected, and particular note was taken of the arrangement and operation of this furnace.

Mr R.C.Baker, who superintended this development, was educated at Uppingham, and at Sheffield University, where he obtained his Associateship in Ferrous Metallurgy in 1937. He trained for a year in the research department and melting shop of the English steel Corporation Ltd and then took up the post of assistant melting shop manager in the family firm at the Kilnhurst works.

In 1938 he was promoted melting shop manager, becoming responsible for steel production, acid and basic open hearth, and the maintenance, extension and improvement of the steel producing plant. He was at the same time in charge of the firm’s Chemical and Metallurgical Laboratories.