Bethlehem in Northampton County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF)

What is it?

— Machine Bio —

Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2024

1. Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) Marker

Inscription.

Converted liquid iron into steel

Who made it?
Bethlehem Steel, 1974

Who used it?
Homer Research Laboratories, Bethlehem Steel, Bethlehem, PA

What did it do?
This miniature furnace was part of a small scale, fully-functional steel mill in Homer Research Labs for experimental steelmaking. It utilized oxygen to convert iron into steel and was built to make two tons of steel per batch, but was later downgraded to one ton. Modern full-size basic oxygen furnaces can make upwards of 350 tons of steel.

Donated by Lehigh University

Erected by National Museum of Industrial History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1974.

Location. 40° 36.766′ N, 75° 22.21′ W. Marker is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in Northampton County. It is at the intersection of 3rd Street and Pierce Street, on the left when traveling east on 3rd Street. Marker is in Foundry Park, near the National Museum of Industrial History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 602 East 2nd Street, Bethlehem PA 18015, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Lehigh Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Research (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Foundry Park (a few steps from this marker); Resources & Raw Materials (a few steps from this marker); Steelworkers Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Moving Around The Plant (a few steps from this marker); "Dinky" Locomotive (a few steps from this marker); Air Compressor (a few steps from this marker); Last Cast 25th Anniversary (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bethlehem.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2024

2. Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) Marker

Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 30, 2024

3. Experimental Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 10, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.