I'd add one more title to the helpful list, especially for anyone just
getting started on the subject :

Salmon, John S.,
The Washington Iron Works of Franklin County, Virginia, 1773-1850 /   
Richmond : Virginia State Library, 1986.

Text and illustrations aimed, successfully I think, to explain the
construction and operation of a fairly representative antebellum VA iron
works in non-technical language.


Dr. Jon Kukla, Executive Vice-President
Red Hill - The Patrick Henry National Memorial
1250 Red Hill Road
Brookneal, Virginia 24528
www.redhill.org