Chain

I was wondering when metal chains were invented and it’s been really difficult because the word is so often used in different contexts, especially it seems scientific ones, that to find the history of the metallic linked length used to pull, shackle, or draw has been quite tricky. Chain mail, chain store, chain letter, chain gang, chain reaction

Chains, metal chains have been made for over two thousand years, and were probably first used for drawing buckets up from a well. The most simple chain is made of metal linked rings, but go into any jewellers and say you are looking for a chain you will be shown dozens of different sorts and styles all made in different ways… however in essence they are the same. Dictionary.com has a nice little definition:  “used either for various purposes requiring a flexible tie with high tensile strength, as for hauling, supporting, or confining, or in various ornamental and decorative forms…”

Originally they were made by blacksmiths, no doubt specialising in that particular way of forging metal, but as the needs grew for bigger, longer, stronger, chains, industrial chains, they were made on an industrial scale, technology bringing in new techniques and new metals. We use them all the time, without even thinking about the, bicycle chains, chains for the door, for fencing, keys, plugs for plug-holes, pull switches, lavatory chains…

Chain Reaction…. Diana Ross