«1900 1902 1904 »

Open hearth steel furnaces commissioned

With the supply of steel bars from America no longer reliable, bars are also being bought from Barrow on the west coast of England and elsewhere. Harry Summers, the most influential of the brothers in the business, feels it unwise to rely on others for basic supplies. It is a philosophy he adopts throughout life. His thoughts turn to steelmaking on the site and open hearth steel furnaces and a bar mill are quickly installed to make and supply steel for the hand rolling mills.