Reports state that new equipment was erected at the plant by early August 1910, with an expectation that “the raw material will be converted into pig iron by a new process, and other foundry work carried on.” It seems that Flood's smelting process would have reused the old blast furnace structure, but substituted the stoves for pipes running on each side of the furnace. During August 1910, Flood stated that this arrangement had been tested, and that smelting would start in a few days, and, in September, he successfully tendered to mine iron ore near the mineral spring. However, in October, Flood, while still stating that his "patent" had been a success, was awaiting more new equipment to arrive in December 1910 to start production, including a larger, 30-horsepower, blowing engine. These plans apparently came to nothing. In the meantime, Australia's first modern blast furnace had commenced operation at the Lithgow in May 1907.
