For the politician see James J. Davis
An iron puddler or a 'puddler' is an occupation involved in the manufacture of iron. Puddling was an improved process to convert pig iron into wrought iron with the use of a reverberating furnace.
James J. Davis, who was born in Tredegar but emigrated to The United States of America where he later became a prominent figure in Government, wrote an account of his early experiences as a puddler in his book - "The Iron Puddler", recently republished.[1]