Model, scale 1:8, of compressed air power hammer, by Peter Pilkington Ltd, Bamber Bridge, Accrington

Power hammers were vital to engineering concerns working with wrought iron or steel, producing forgings on a variety of scales. Although may hammers were steam-powered along the lines established by Nasmyth or Massey, pneumatic hammers also came in to use, connected by air lines to a central compressor, air reservoir and accumulator. Such systems featured quite prominently in Pilkington's advertisements and frequent references in 'The Engineer' journal. and a number survive in different collections.