The oldest steam hammers existing in Japan that were used to shape hot iron through the power of high-pressure steam.

Steam Hammers

Steam hammers were machines that used a steam-driven hammer to shape hot iron. These steam hammers were imported from the Netherlands in 1866 to be used at the Yokosuka Arsenal. They allowed for iron to be forged at a greater scale and established the Yokosuka Arsenal as the foundation for the modernization of Japan. As some of the oldest existing steam hammers in Japan, they have been designated as Japan Heritage Cultural Properties and Important Cultural Properties of Japan.