ToolsandcivilizationThebeginningsoftoolsDexterityofhandchieflyreliedonOppositiontomanufacturingmachinesGradualprocessofinventionThehumanracethetrueinventorObscureoriginofmanyinventionsInventionsbornbeforetheirtime”Nothingnewunderthesun”
ThepowerofsteamknowntotheancientsPassagefromRogerBaconOldinventionsrevivedPrintingAtmosphericlocomotionTheballoonThereapingmachineTunnelsGunpowderAncientfirearmsThesteamgunTheCongreverocketCoal-gasHydropathyAnaestheticagentsTheDaguerreotypeanticipatedTheelectrictelegraphnotnewForgotteninventorsDisputedinventionsSimultaneousinventionsInventionsmadestepbystepJamesWatt’sdifficultieswithhisworkmenImprovementsinmodernmachine-toolsTheirperfectionTheenginesof”TheWarrior”
CHAPTERXI。
JOSEPHBRAMAH。
TheinventivefacultyJosephBramah’searlylifeHisamateurworkApprenticedtoacarpenterStartsascabinet-makerinLondonTakesoutapatentforhiswater-closetMakespumpsandironworkInventionofhislockInventstoolsrequiredinlock-makingInventshishydrostaticmachineHishydraulicpressTheleatherncollarinventedbyHenryMaudslayBramah’sotherinventionsHisfire-engineHisbeer-pumpImprovementsinthesteam-engineHisimprovementsinmachine-toolsHisnumber-printingmachineHispen-cutterHishydraulicmachineryPractisesascivilengineerAltercationwithWilliamHuntington,”S。S。”
Bramah’scharacteranddeathCHAPTERXII。
HENRYMAUDSLAY。
TheMaudslaysHenryMaudslayEmployedaspowder-boyinWoolwichArsenalAdvancedtotheblacksmiths’shopHisearlydexterityinsmith-workHis”trivet”makingEmployedbyBramahProveshimselfafirst-classworkmanAdvancedtobeforemanoftheworksHisinventionsoftoolsrequiredforlock-makingHisinventionoftheleatherncollarinthehydraulicpressLeavesBramah’sserviceandbeginsbusinessforhimselfHisfirstsmithyinWellsStreetHisfirstjobInventionoftheslide-latheResumeofthehistoryoftheturning-latheImperfectionoftoolsaboutthemiddleoflastcenturyThehand-latheGreatadvantagesofthesliderestFirstextensivelyusedinconstructingBrunel’sBlockMachineryMemoirofBrunelManufactureofships’blocksSirS。Bentham’sspecificationsIntroductionofBruneltoMaudslayTheblock-machinerymade,anditssuccessIncreasedoperationsofthefirmImprovementsinthesteam-engineInventionofthepunching-machineFurtherimprovementsintheslide-latheScrew-cuttingmachineMaudslayadexterousandthoughtfulworkmanHischaracterdescribedbyhispupil,JamesNasmythAnecdotesandtraitsMaudslay’sworksafirst-classschoolforworkmenHismodeofestimatingcharacterHisdeathCHAPTERXIII。
JOSEPHCLEMENT。
SkillincontrivanceamatterofeducationBirthandparentageofJosephClementApprenticedtothetradeofaslaterHisskillinamateurworkMakesaturning-latheGivesupslating,andbecomesamechanicEmployedatKirbyStepheninmakingpower-loomsRemovestoCarlisleGlasgowPeterNicholsonteacheshimdrawingRemovestoAberdeenWorksasamechanicandattendsCollegeLondonEmployedbyAlexanderGallowayEmployedbyBramahAdvancedtobeforemanDraughtsmanatMaudslayandField’sBeginsbusinessonhisownaccountHisskillasamechanicaldraughtsmanInventshisdrawinginstrumentHisdrawing-tableHisimprovementsintheself-actinglatheHisdouble-drivingcentre-chuckandtwo-armeddriverHisflutedtapsanddiesInventionofhisPlaningMachineEmployedtomakeBabbage’sCalculatingMachineResumeofthehistoryofapparatusformakingcalculationsBabbage’sengineproceededwithItsgreatcostInterruptionoftheworkClement’ssteam-whistlesMakesanorganCharacteranddeathCHAPTERXIV。
FOXOFDERBY——MURRAYOFLEEDS——ROBERTSANDWHITWORTHOFMANCHESTER。
ThefirstFoxofDerbyoriginallyabutlerHisgeniusformechanicsBeginsbusinessasamachinistInventsaPlaningMachineMatthewMurray’sPlaningMachineMurray’searlycareerEmployedasablacksmithbyMarshallofLeedsHisimprovementsofflax-machineryImprovementsinsteam-enginesMakesthefirstworkinglocomotiveforMr。BlenkinsopInventstheHecklingMachineHisimprovementsintoolsRichardRobertsofManchesterFirstaquarryman,nextapattern-makerDrawnforthemilitia,andfliesHistravelsHisfirstemploymentatManchesterGoestoLondon,andworksatMaudslay’sRoberts’snumerousinventionsInventsaplaningmachineTheself-actingmuleIronbilliard-tablesImprovementsinthelocomotiveInventstheJacquardpunchingmachineMakesturret-clocksandelectro-magnetsImprovementinscrew-steamshipsMr。Whitworth’simprovementoftheplaningmachineHismethodofsecuringtruesurfacesHisgreatmechanicalskillCHAPTERXV。
JAMESNASMYTH。
TraditionaloriginoftheNaesmythsAlexanderNasmyththepainter,andhisfamilyEarlyyearsofJamesNasmythThestoryofhislifetoldbyhimselfBecomesapupilofHenryMaudslayHowhelivedandworkedinLondonBeginsbusinessatManchesterStoryoftheinventionoftheSteamHammerTheimportantusesoftheHammerinmodemengineeringInventsthesteampile-drivingmachineDesignsanewformofsteam-engineOtherinventionsHowhe”Scotched”astrikeUsesofstrikesRetirementfrombusinessSkillasadraughtsmanCuriousspeculationsonantiquariansubjectsMr。Nasmyth’swonderfuldiscoveriesinAstronomydescribedbySirJohnHerschelCHAPTERXVI。
WILLIAMFAIRBAIRN。
Summaryofprogressinmachine-toolsWilliamFairbairn’searlyyearsHiseducationLifeintheHighlandsBeginsworkatKelsoBridgeAnapprenticeatPercyMainColliery,NorthShieldsDiligentself-cultureVoyagetoLondonAdventuresPreventedobtainingworkbytheMillwrights’UnionTravelsintothecountry,findswork,andreturnstoLondonHisfirstorder,tomakeasausage-choppingmachineWanderschaftMakesnail-machineryforaDublinemployerProceedstoManchester,wherehesettlesandmarriesBeginsbusinessHisfirstjobPartnershipwithMr。LillieEmployedbyMessrs。AdamMurrayandCo。
EmployedbyMessrs。MacConnelandKennedyProgressoftheCottonTradeMemoirofJohnKennedyMr。Fairbairnintroducesgreatimprovementsinthegearing,&c。
ofmillmachineryIncreasingbusinessImprovementsinwater-wheelsExperimentsastothelawoftractionofboatsBeginsbuildingironshipsExperimentsonthestrengthofwroughtironBritanniaandConwayTubularBridgesReportsonironOnboilerexplosionsIronconstructionExtendeduseofironItsimportanceincivilizationOpinionofMr。CobdenImportanceofmodernmachine-toolsConclusionINDUSTRIALBIOGRAPHY。
CHAPTERI。
IRONANDCIVILIZATION。”Ironisnotonlythesoulofeveryothermanufacture,butthemainspringperhapsofcivilizedsociety。”——FRANCISHORNER。”Weretheuseofironlostamongus,weshouldinafewagesbeunavoidablyreducedtothewantsandignoranceoftheancientsavageAmericans;sothathewhofirstmadeknowntheuseofthatcontemptiblemineralmaybetrulystyledthefatherofArtsandtheauthorofPlenty。”——JOHNLOCKE。
WhenCaptainCookandtheearlynavigatorsfirstsailedintotheSouthSeasontheirvoyagesofdiscovery,oneofthethingsthatstruckthemwithmostsurprisewastheaviditywhichthenativesdisplayedforiron。”Nothingwouldgodownwithourvisitors,”saysCook,”butmetal;andironwastheirbelovedarticle。”Anailwouldbuyagood-sizedpig;andononeoccasionthenavigatorboughtsomefourhundredpoundsweightoffishforafewwretchedknivesimprovisedoutofanoldhoop。”Forirontools,”saysCaptainCarteret,”wemighthavepurchasedeverythingupontheFreewillIslandsthatwecouldhavebroughtaway。
Afewpiecesofoldironhooppresentedtooneofthenativesthrewhimintoanecstasylittleshortofdistraction。”AtOtaheitethepeoplewerefoundgenerallywell-behavedandhonest;buttheywerenotproofagainstthefascinationsofiron。CaptainCooksaysthatoneofthem,afterresistingallothertemptations,”wasatlengthensnaredbythecharmsofbasketofnails。”Anotherlurkedaboutforseveraldays,watchingtheopportunitytostealacoal-rake。
Thenavigatorsfoundtheycouldpaytheirwayfromislandtoislandmerelywithscrapsofiron,whichwereasusefulforthepurposeasgoldcoinswouldhavebeeninEurope。Thedrain,however,beingcontinuous,CaptainCookbecamealarmedatfindinghiscurrencyalmostexhausted;andherelateshisjoyonrecoveringanoldanchorwhichtheFrenchCaptainBougainvillehadlostatBolabola,onwhichhefeltasanEnglishbankerwoulddoafterasevererunuponhimforgold,whensuddenlyplacedinpossessionofafreshstoreofbullion。
Theavidityforirondisplayedbythesepoorislanderswillnotbewonderedatwhenweconsiderthatwhoeveramongthemwassofortunateastoobtainpossessionofanoldnail,immediatelybecameamanofgreaterpowerthanhisfellows,andassumedtherankofacapitalist。”AnOtaheitanchief,”saysCook,”whohadgottwonailsinhispossession,receivednosmallemolumentbylettingouttheuseofthemtohisneighboursforthepurposeofboringholeswhentheirownmethodsfailed,orwerethoughttootedious。”
ThenativemethodsreferredtobyCookwereofaveryclumsysort;
theprincipaltoolsoftheOtaheitansbeingofwood,stone,andflint。Theiradzesandaxeswereofstone。Thegougemostcommonlyusedbythemwasmadeoutoftheboneofthehumanforearm。Theirsubstituteforaknifewasashell,orabitofflintorjasper。
Ashark’stooth,fixedtoapieceofwood,servedforanauger;
apieceofcoralforafile;andtheskinofasting-rayforapolisher。Theirsawwasmadeofjaggedfishes’teethfixedontheconvexedgeofapieceofhardwood。Theirweaponswereofasimilarlyrudedescription;theirclubsandaxeswereheadedwithstone,andtheirlancesandarrowsweretippedwithflint。Firewasanotheragencyemployedbythem,usuallyinboat-building。Thus,theNewZealanders,whosetoolswerealsoofstone,wood,orbone,madetheirboatsofthetrunksoftreeshollowedoutbyfire。
Thestoneimplementswerefashioned,CaptainCooksays,byrubbingonestoneuponanotheruntilbroughttotherequiredshape;but,afterall,theywerefoundveryinefficientfortheirpurpose。Theysoonbecamebluntedanduseless;andthelaboriousprocessofmakingnewtoolshadtobebegunagain。Thedelightoftheislandersatbeingputinpossessionofamaterialwhichwascapableoftakingacomparativelysharpedgeandkeepingit,maythereforereadilybeimagined;andhencetheremarkableincidentstowhichwehavereferredintheexperienceoftheearlyvoyagers。Inthemindsofthenatives,ironbecametherepresentativeofpower,efficiency,andwealth;andtheywerereadyalmosttofalldownandworshiptheirnewtools,esteemingtheaxeasadeity,offeringsacrificestothesaw,andholdingtheknifeinespecialveneration。
Intheinfancyofallnationsthesamedifficultiesmusthavebeenexperiencedforwantoftools,beforetheartsofsmeltingandworkinginmetalshadbecomeknown;anditisnotimprobablethatthePhoeniciannavigatorswhofirstfrequentedourcoastsfoundthesameavidityforbronzeandironexistingamongthepoorwoad-stainedBritonswhoflockeddowntotheshoretoseetheirshipsandexchangefoodandskinswiththem,thatCaptainCookdiscoveredmorethantwothousandyearslateramongthenativesofOtaheiteandNewZealand。
For,thetoolsandweaponsfoundinancientburying-placesinallpartsofBritainclearlyshowthattheseislandsalsohavepassedthroughtheepochofstoneandflint。
TherewasrecentlyexhibitedattheCrystalPalaceacollectionofancientEuropeanweaponsandimplementsplacedalongsideasimilarcollectionofarticlesbroughtfromtheSouthSeas;andtheywereinmostrespectssomuchalikethatitwasdifficulttobelievethattheydidnotbelongtothesameraceandperiod,insteadofbeingtheimplementsofracessunderedbyhalftheglobe,andlivingatperiodsmorethantwothousandyearsapart。Nearlyeveryweaponintheonecollectionhaditscounterpartintheother,——themaulsorceltsofstone,thespearheadsofflintorjasper,thearrowheadsofflintorbone,andthesawsofjaggedstone,showinghowhumaningenuity,underlikecircumstances,hadresortedtolikeexpedients。Itwouldalsoappearthattheancienttribesintheseislands,liketheNewZealanders,usedfiretohollowouttheirlargerboats;severalspecimensofthiskindofvesselhavingrecentlybeendugupinthevalleysoftheWithamandtheClyde,someofthelatterfromundertheverystreetsofmodernGlasgow。*
[footnote……”Mr。JohnBuchanan,azealousantiquary,writingin1855,informsusthatinthecourseoftheeightyearsprecedingthatdate,nolessthanseventeencanoeshadbeendugoutofthisestuarinesilt[ofthevalleyoftheClyde],andthathehadpersonallyinspectedalargenumberofthembeforetheywereexhumed。FiveofthemlayburiedinsiltunderthestreetsofGlasgow,oneinaverticalpositionwiththeprowuppermost,asifithadsunkinastorm……Almosteveryoneoftheseancientboatswasformedoutofasingleoak-stem,hollowedoutbyblunttools,probablystoneaxes,aidedbytheactionoffire;
afewwerecutbeautifullysmooth,evidentlywithmetallictools。
Henceagradationcouldbetracedfromapatternofextremerudenesstooneshowinggreatmechanicalingenuity……Inoneofthecanoesabeautifullypolishedceltoraxeofgreenstonewasfound;inthebottomofanotheraplugofcork,which,asMr。Geikieremarks,’couldonlyhavecomefromthelatitudesofSpain,SouthernFrance,orItaly。’”——SirC。LYELL,AntiquityofMan,48-9。