9. STATION: "Links vom Hochofen"

On this side of the blast furnace, you can still see large sections of an iron water wheel that is surely around 200 years old. 

Since the Sayner Hütte had plenty of water to power its machinery, it could manage without steam engines for many years. The water from the Saynbach was channelled through the upper ditch directly behind the blast furnace building from where it was led to the water wheels. 

The water wheel was an overshot type, i.e., the water was fed onto the wheel from above, thereby propelling it backwards. This was achieved by the very unusual shape of the water pans, which somewhat resembled a turbine. The brick waterwheel chamber fitted flush against the curve of the water wheel. As a result, the water could only flow out via the pans. This type of wheel proved highly efficient since there was no water loss involved. As with all the technical installations in the casting hall and furnace building, this particular type of water wheel was designed by Carl Ludwig Althans. 

The wheel set in motion a three-cylinder blower that was once located where a lift now stands. The cylinder blower ensured that the furnace was supplied with a regular supply of air and oxygen. This meant higher temperatures and faster melting. 

Althans knew all about cylinder blowers from other ironworks. Indeed, he built the first two-cylinder blowers for the ironworks in Lohe. For the Sayner ironworks he invented a more effcient three-cylinder blower that generated a steadier stream of wind.