Welding History & 20th Century Advancements

Welding is a rapidly growing and evolving profession in the world today. Welders are employed in a range of key industries to produce some of the most in-demand products on the market. 

There are several types of welding used today that were developed in the 20th century. As we look at the history of welding, we will discuss these welding types and their uses. 

The following is a short and easily digestible history of welding. While welding has been around in some form since ancient times, this article focuses on welding advancements of the 20th century. 

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Early Origins of Welding 

The earliest examples of welding date to around 2,000 years ago. Bronze Age artifacts possess lap joints created through pressure welding. 

Welding remained rudimentary through the Middle Ages and Enlightenment era. Blacksmiths performed the majority of welding through hammering. 

A major breakthrough for welding as we know it today came in 1836, when Edmund Davy discovered acetylene. His discovery would not really be used until gas welding and cutting rose to prominence in the late 1800s. 

In 1885, Nikolai Benardos of Russia became the first to acquire a welding patent. His work was so important that he was featured on Soviet-era stamps like the one showed here. 

By 1890, patents for arc welding with metal electrodes were acquired in America. The development by Oscar Kjellberg of the covered electrode in the early 1900s marked the beginning of increased advancement of welding processes.  

The early 1900s up until the start of World War I saw the use of arc welding in several forms. Innovations of this period would be utilized in building machinery and weapons for the World War. 

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Welding During World War I 

Previous innovations of the late 1800s and early 1900s were utilized in preparing for and supplying World War I. Ships, heavy machinery, and other necessary items were fabricated by welders. 

While female workers are mostly associated with World War II, women welders were also vital during the first World War. They utilized the latest welding technology to create the tools necessary to win the war. 

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Welding between Wars & World War II Welding

Following World War I, several key innovations in the welding occurred. The first was the development of the first fully welded ship, the Fullagar. This ship was created between 1917 and 1920. 

Another key date between the wars was 1919. This was the year that the American Welding Society was created. It continues to serve as a non profit promoting the advancement of welding processes. 

In 1920, General Electric invented automatic welding. This process would continue to evolve throughout the 20th century. 

By the start of the 1930s, the welding industry had already experienced many changes. Stud welding and submerged arc welding were the newest welding processes. 

The 1940s ushered in gas tungsten arc welding and gas metal arc welding. Flux-cored arc welding would develop at the start of World War II and was used to create several types of ships. 

Women welders became quite common during World War II as men were deployed overseas. Women took welding classes before going on to create warships and other large equipment. 

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Late 20th Century Welding & the Future of the Trade

Following World War II, the Cold War pushed welding innovations into the future. Electron beam welding was used in the automotive and aircraft industries. 

The Soviets invented friction welding in the the 1950s. Electroslag welding allowed for the joining of thick materials. 

Laser welding and robotic welding were developed in the 1960s. The latter became a popular method of fabrication starting in the 1980s. Today, robotic welding continues to gain popularity as an accurate, safe, and efficient means of welding.