For a really good read into the background and early trials of fluid steel (and the second and third Reichs), read Manchester's book on Krupp Essen. The German's came late to the fluss stahl party but ended up with the biggest punch barrel; Big Bertha. Herr Krupp was so obsessed with the "secret" of best fluid steel, he disguised himself poorly as an Englishman and sneaked around Sheffield as a 3rd-rate industrial spy. Early on the stuff was so precious, it could only be made in small crucibles and the main use was for stamps and dies. Today, you can tickle a bunch of computers and come up with new car sheetmetal in under 6 months. Amazing what technology can do.
