As near as we have been able to tell, National Welding Month is an obscure recognition was apparently declared by Congress in the 1940’s, probably in response to the part welding played in the World War II effort. 

In a 1943 article, “Welded Weapons in War,” Col. Scott Ritchie of the Ordinance Department extolled the merits of welding in the war effort when he said, “...welding has done much to keep us above and ahead of the enemy.”

He went on to note, “Welding enters into a large percentage of more than 1700 different weapons ...furnished to our fighting forces.” 

He also recognized the versatility to fabrication welding afforded when he said, “…it is a powerful tool for producing weapons, which otherwise could not be produced.” 

Welding came out of the war years as a growth technology, replacing riveted construction in much of metal fabrication.  A nation at war turns to its technology to produce the material necessary to execute a successful end to its conflict, and in so doing pushes that technology into new applications and discoveries. During WW II, welding was one of those technologies that was called upon to perform at its best. [http://www.aws.org/w/a/about/wldandsoc2.html]

U.S. military now engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan are also relying on welding production for the supplies they require.  This would include tanks and military vehicles, weapons and airplanes.

But the history of welding dates back much farther.  In the beginning of the Good Book there's talk about welding.  From Genesis 4:22, “Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.” And did you know that as early as 3000 B.C. the Egyptians heated iron ore and then hammered it together?  This is the earliest example of "pressure" or "solid-phase" welding. In 1500 B.C. Iron was smelted. [http://www.hamptons.com/detail.ihtml?id=1519&apid=3260&sid=24&cid=27&arc=1]

Research on this topic is sketchy at best.  So if you know of any good resources on the topic of National Welding Month, please forward them to hiwt@welding.org and we’ll share them with our readers.  We would also be interested in hearing how you choose to celebrate National Welding Month.  Put those imaginations to work and come up with some original ideas!    

Hobart Institute believes National Welding Month should be celebrated by all, to include welding companies and schools across the country, not hidden in history archives!