A History of Welding

Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan is an oil painting by Diego de Velázquez completed after his first visit to Italy in 1629. Critics agree that the work should be dated to 1630, the same year as his painting `Joseph's Tunic`. It appears that neither of the two paintings were commissioned by the king, although both became part of the royal collections within a short time. The painting is currently to be found in the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
It tells a funny passage from mythology, when Apollo bursts into the forge where Vulcan and the Cyclops are working iron. Observe that Apollo, the God of arts is beautiful and attractive, while Vulcan is older thinner and cripple. In fact his body is bent to one side. But everybody seems to be very surprised in front of the news Apollo is telling. In fact, instead of choosing the most glorious moments of the gods, Velázquez chooses the most embarrassing. In this case he is telling Vulcan that his wife Venus, the goddess of beauty and of love is having a love affair with Mars, the god of war, that, in the other hand is Vulcan's brother. Notice how Velázquez has studied the different types of men and the power of the word over them. We see the wonderful anatomy of this man, the detailed muscles that the painter could do so well thanks to his trips to Italy. In fact, in Spain our artists were not interested in anatomy at all. They didn't know how to paint it and they had to travel to Italy where they could study the old roman sculpture and the works of painters like Leonardo or Michelangelo that had studied profoundly this subject. We see here that Velázquez, like Leonardo was engaged with the search for truth and beauty. Truth in everything he depicts, that seems to be the fruit of a direct and deeply observation of reality (notice all the objects represented), and evident beauty in the study of the bodies.

John F. Weir (1841–1926) was an American painter and sculptor. He was the son of painter Robert Walter Weir, a professor of drawing at the Military Academy at West Point. His younger brother, J. Alden Weir, also became a well-known artist who painted in the style of American Impressionism.

Colorized image from Egypt depicting a silversmith in action.

Life Magazine from 1943 depicting a young man holding a welding torch.

Howard B. Cary.
Hobart Bros. Troy Ohio

Humphrey Davy

Oskar Kjellberg

Robert Peaslee
Wall-Colmony Detroit Michigan

JC Lincoln
Used with permission.
JCL.com
Kelly Ettenborough 23 July 2012

Edison and Ford at Taylor-Winfield
Used with permission
Taylor-Winfield.com Courtesy of Anthony Rohan and Katie Denno
May 24, 2023.

Gas Welders of Puget Sound Shipard, November 11, 1918
May 19, 2024

Images provided by Dr. Kornienko of E. O. Paton Welding Institute.

Images obtained from Benardos Museum.

Vintage Welding Equipment.

This lot consists of a used pair of stamps issued for use in the South Africa in 1941. This joined pair of used stamps depicts Electric Welding. This item is priced at £9 in Gibbons latest catalogue.

Stamp images provided by Dr. Kornienko of the E.O. Paton Welding Institute.

Stamp images provided by Netherlands Institute of Welding (NIL).

Sample Weld taken from a failed Liberty Ship.

Astro Arc Prototype Photos

Images provide by Dominique D. from French Society SAF magazines (soudeurs.com)

SOLD on eBAY in 2005. This is a portable 110 volt and 200 amp arc welder with a two cylinder water cooled gasoline engine on a steel frame with iron spoke wheels. There is a great looking control panel with big brass blade switches with weathered wood handles. Brass tags with Lincoln logo of helmeted welder striking a arc.

Images provided by Dustin Harris.