Brunelformanufacturingships’blocks。ThecareerofBrunelwasofamoreromanticcharacterthanfallstotheordinarylotofmechanicalengineers。Hisfatherwasasmallfarmerandpostmaster，atthevillageofHacqueville，inNormandy，whereMarcIsambardwasbornin1769。Hewasearlyintendedforapriest，andeducatedaccordingly。
Buthewasmuchfonderofthecarpenter’sshopthanoftheschool；
andcoaxing，entreaty，andpunishmentalikefailedinmakingahopefulscholarofhim。Hedrewfacesandplansuntilhisfatherwasalmostindespair。SenttoschoolatRouen，hischiefpleasurewasinwatchingtheshipsalongthequays；andonedayhiscuriositywasexcitedbythesightofsomelargeironcastingsjustlanded。Whatwerethey?Howhadtheybeenmade?Wheredidtheycomefrom?Hiseagerinquiriesweresoonanswered。TheywerepartsofanengineintendedforthegreatPariswater-works；theenginewastopumpwaterbythepowerofsteam；andthecastingshadbeenmadeinEngland，andhadjustbeenlandedfromanEnglishship。”England！”
exclaimedtheboy，”ah！whenIamamanIwillgoseethecountrywheresuchgrandmachinesaremade！”Ononeoccasion，seeinganewtoolinacutler’swindow，hecoveteditsomuchthathepawnedhishattopossessit。Thiswasnottherightroadtothepriesthood；andhisfathersoonsawthatitwasofnouseurginghimfurther：buttheboy’sinstinctprovedtruerthanthefather’sjudgment。
Itwaseventuallydeterminedthatheshouldqualifyhimselftoentertheroyalnavy，andatseventeenhewasnominatedtoserveinacorvetteas”volontaired’honneur。”Hisshipwaspaidoffin1792，andhewasatParisduringthetrialoftheKing。Withtheincautiousnessofyouthheopenlyavowedhisroyalistopinionsinthecafewhichhefrequented。OntheverydaythatLouiswascondemnedtodeath，Brunelhadanangryaltercationwithsomeultra-republicans，afterwhichhecalledtohisdog，”Viens，citoyen！”Scowlinglookswereturneduponhim，andhedeemeditexpedienttotakethefirstopportunityofescapingfromthehouse，whichhedidbyaback-door，andmadethebestofhiswaytoHacqueville。FromthencehewenttoRouen，andsucceededinfindingapassageonboardanAmericanship，inwhichhesailedforNewYork，havingfirstpledgedhisaffectionstoanEnglishgirl，SophiaKingdom，whomhehadaccidentallymetatthehouseofMr。Carpentier，theAmericanconsulatRouen。
ArrivedinAmerica，hesucceededinfindingemploymentasassistantsurveyorofatractoflandalongtheBlackRiver，nearLakeOntario。
IntheintervalsofhislabourshemadeoccasionalvisitstoNewYork，anditwastherethatthefirstideaofhisblock-machineryoccurredtohim。Hecarriedhisideabackwithhimintothewoods，whereitoftenmingledwithhisthoughtsofSophiaKingdom，bythistimesafeinEnglandafterpassingthroughthehorrorsofaFrenchprison。”Myfirstthoughtoftheblock-machinery，”heoncesaid，”wasatadinnerpartyatMajor-GeneralHamilton’s，inNewYork；mysecondunderanAmericantree，when，onedaythatIwascarvinglettersonitsbark，theturnofoneofthemremindedmeofit，andIthought，’Ah！myblock！soitmustbe。’Andwhatdoyouthink。werethelettersIwascutting?OfcoursenoneotherthanS。K。”BrunelsubsequentlyobtainedsomeemploymentasanarchitectinNewYork，andpromulgatedvariousplansforimprovingthenavigationoftheprincipalrivers。Amongthedesignsofhiswhichwerecarriedout，wasthatoftheParkTheatreatNewYork，andacannonfoundry，inwhichheintroducedimprovementsincastingandboringbigguns。Butbeingbadlypaidforhiswork，andapowerfulattractiondrawinghimconstantlytowardsEngland，hedeterminedtotakefinalleaveofAmerica，whichhedidin1799，andlandedatFalmouthinthefollowingMarch。ThereheagainmetMissKingdom，whohadremainedfaithfultohimduringhissixlongyearsofexile，andthepairwereshortlyafterunitedforlife。
Brunelwasaprolificinventor。DuringhisresidenceinAmerica，hehadplannedmanycontrivancesinhismind，whichhenowproceededtoworkout。Thefirstwasaduplicatewritinganddrawingmachine，whichhepatented。Thenextwasamachinefortwistingcottonthreadandformingitintoballs；butomittingtoprotectitbyapatent，hederivednobenefitfromtheinvention，thoughitshortlycameintoverygeneraluse。Hetheninventedamachinefortrimmingsandbordersformuslins，lawns，andcambrics，——ofthenatureofasewingmachine。Hisfamousblock-machineryformedthesubjectofhisnextpatent。
Itmaybeexplainedthatthemakingoftheblocksemployedintheriggingofshipsforraisingandloweringthesails，masts，andyards，wasthenahighlyimportantbranchofmanufacture。SomeideamaybeformedofthenumberusedintheRoyalNavyalone，fromthefactthata74-gunshiprequiredtobeprovidedwithnofewerthan1400blocksofvarioussizes。Thesheavedblocksusedfortherunningriggingconsistedoftheshell，thesheaves，whichrevolvedwithintheshell，andthepinswhichfastenedthemtogether。Thefabricationofthesearticles，thoughapparentlysimple，wasinrealityattendedwithmuchdifficulty。Everyparthadtobefashionedwithgreataccuracyandprecisiontoensuretheeasyworkingoftheblockwhenputtogether，asanyhitchintheraisingorloweringofthesailsmight，oncertainemergencies，occasionaseriousdisaster。Indeed，itbecameclearthatmerehand-workwasnottobereliedoninthemanufactureofthesearticles，andeffortswereearlymadetoproducethembymeansofmachineryofthemostperfectkindthatcouldbedevised。In1781，Mr。Taylor，ofSouthampton，setupalargeestablishmentontheriverItchenfortheirmanufacture；andontheexpiryofhiscontract，theGovernmentdeterminedtoestablishworksoftheirowninPortsmouthDockyard，forthepurposeatthesametimeofsecuringgreatereconomy，andofbeingindependentofindividualmakersinthesupplyofanarticleofsuchimportanceintheequipmentofships。
SirSamuelBentham，whothenfilledtheofficeofInspector-GeneralofNavalWorks，wasahighlyingeniousperson，andhadforsomeyearsbeenapplyinghismindtotheinventionofimprovedmachineryforworkinginwood。Hehadsucceededinintroducingintotheroyaldockyardssawing-machinesandplaning-machinesofasuperiorkind，aswellasblock-makingmachines。Thusthespecificationofoneofhispatents，takenoutin1793，clearlydescribesamachineforshapingtheshellsoftheblocks，inamannersimilartothatafterwardsspecifiedbyBrunel。BenthamhadevenproceededwiththeerectionofabuildinginPortsmouthDockyardforthemanufactureoftheblocksafterhismethod，thenecessarysteam-enginebeingalreadyprovided；
butwithasingulardegreeofcandourandgenerosity，onBrunel’smethodbeingsubmittedtohim，SirSamuelatonceacknowledgeditssuperioritytohisown，andpromisedtorecommenditsadoptionbytheauthoritiesinhisdepartment。
ThecircumstanceofMrs。Brunel’sbrotherbeingUnder-SecretarytotheNavyBoardatthetime，probablyledBrunelinthefirstinstancetoofferhisinventiontotheAdmiralty。Agreatdeal，however，remainedtobedonebeforehecouldbringhisideasoftheblock-machineryintoadefiniteshape；forthereisusuallyawideintervalbetweenthefirstconceptionofanintricatemachineanditspracticalrealization。ThoughBrunelhadagoodknowledgeofmechanics，andwasabletomastertheintricaciesofanymachine，helabouredunderthedisadvantageofnotbeingapracticalmechanicanditisprobablethatbutforthehelpofsomeonepossessedofthisimportantqualification，hisinvention，ingeniousandimportantthoughitwas，wouldhavebornenopracticalfruits。ItwasatthisjuncturethathewassofortunateastobeintroducedtoHenryMaudslay，theinventorofthesliderest。
IthappenedthataM。deBacquancourt，oneoftheFrenchemigres，ofwhomtherewerethensomanyinLondon，wasaccustomedalmostdailytopassMaudslay’slittleshopinWells-street，andbeinghimselfanamateurturner，hecuriouslyinspectedthearticlesfromtimetotimeexhibitedinthewindowoftheyoungmechanic。Onedayamorethanordinarilynicepieceofscrew-cuttingmadeitsappearance，onwhichheenteredtheshoptomakeinquiriesastothemethodbywhichithadbeenexecuted。HehadalongconversationwithMaudslay，withwhomhewasgreatlypleased；andhewasafterwardsaccustomedtolookinuponhimoccasionallytoseewhatnewworkwasgoingon。
BacquancourtwasalsoonintimatetermswithBrunel，whocommunicatedtohimthedifficultyhehadexperiencedinfindingamechanicofsufficientdexteritytoexecutehisdesignoftheblock-makingmachinery。ItimmediatelyoccurredtotheformerthatHenryMaudslaywastheverymantoexecuteworkoftheelaboratecharacterproposed，andhedescribedtoBrunelthenewandbeautifultoolswhichMaudslayhadcontrivedforthepurposeofensuringaccuracyandfinish。BrunelatoncedeterminedtocalluponMaudslay，anditwasarrangedthatBacquancourtshouldintroducehim，whichhedid，andaftertheinterviewwhichtookplaceBrunelpromisedtocallagainwiththedrawingsofhisproposedmodel。
Afewdayspassed，andBrunelcalledwiththefirstdrawing，donebyhimself；forhewasacapitaldraughtsman，andusedtospeakofdrawingasthe”alphabetoftheengineer。”Thedrawingonlyshowedalittlebitoftheintendedmachine，andBruneldidnotyetthinkitadvisabletocommunicatetoMaudslaythepreciseobjecthehadinview；forinventorsareusuallyverycharyofexplainingtheirschemestoothers，forfearofbeinganticipated。AgainBrunelappearedatMaudslay’sshopwithafurtherdrawing，stillnotexplaininghisdesign；butatthethirdvisit，immediatelyonlookingatthefreshdrawingshehadbrought，Maudslayexclaimed，”Ah！nowI
seewhatyouarethinkingof；youwantmachineryformakingblocks。”
AtthisBrunelbecamemorecommunicative，andexplainedhisdesignstothemechanic，whofullyenteredintohisviews，andwentonfromthattimeforwardstrivingtohisutmosttoworkouttheinventor’sconceptionsandembodytheminapracticalmachine。
Whilestilloccupiedonthemodels，whichwerebegunin1800，MaudslayremovedhisshopfromWells-street，wherehewasassistedbyasinglejourneyman，toMargaret-street，Cavendish-square，wherehehadgreaterroomforcarryingonhistrade，andwasalsoenabledtoincreasethenumberofhishands。TheworkingmodelswerereadyforinspectionbySirSamuelBenthamandtheLordsoftheAdmiraltyin1801，andhavingbeenfullyapprovedbythem，Brunelwasauthorizedtoproceedwiththeexecutionoftherequisitemachineryforthemanufactureoftheship’sblocksrequiredfortheRoyalNavy。ThewholeofthismachinerywasexecutedbyHenryMaudslay；itoccupiedhimveryfullyfornearlysixyears，sothatthemanufactureofblocksbythenewprocesswasnotbegununtilSeptember，1808。
Wedespairofbeingabletogiveanyadequatedescriptioninwordsoftheintricatearrangementsandmodeofactionoftheblock-makingmachinery。Letanyoneattempttodescribethemuchmoresimpleandfamiliarprocessbywhichashoemakermakesapairofshoes，andhewillfindhowinadequatemerewordsaretodescribeanymechanicaloperation。*
[footnote……
Sofaraswordsanddrawingscanservetodescribetheblock-makingmachinery，itwillbefoundveryablydescribedbyMr。FareyinhisarticleunderthisheadinRees’sCyclopaedia，andbyDr。BrewsterintheEdinburghCyclopaedia。AverygoodaccountwillalsobefoundinTomlinson’sCyclopaediaoftheUsefulArts，Art。”Block。”
Sufficeittosay，thatthemachinerywasofthemostbeautifulmanufactureandfinish，andevenatthisdaywillbearcomparisonwiththemostperfectmachineswhichcanbeturnedoutwithalltheimprovedappliancesofmoderntools。Theframingwasofcast-iron，whilethepartsexposedtoviolentandrapidactionwereallofthebesthardenedsteel。Inturningoutthevariousparts，Maudslayfoundhissliderestofindispensablevalue。Indeed，withoutthiscontrivance，itisdoubtfulwhethermachineryofsodelicateandintricateacharactercouldpossiblyhavebeenexecuted。Therewasnotone，butmanymachinesintheseries，eachdevotedtoaspecialoperationintheformationofablock。Thustherewerevarioussawing-machines，——theStraightCross-CuttingSaw，theCircularCross-CuttingSaw，theReciprocatingRipping-saw，andtheCircularRipping-Saw。ThenthereweretheBoringMachines，andtheMortisingMachine，ofbeautifulconstruction，forcuttingthesheave-holes，furnishedwithnumerouschisels，eachmakingfrom110to150strokesaminute，andcuttingateverystrokeachipasthickaspasteboardwiththeutmostprecision。InadditiontotheseweretheCorner-Sawforcuttingoffthecornersoftheblock，theShapingMachineforaccuratelyformingtheoutsidesurfaces，theScoringEngineforcuttingthegrooveroundthelongestdiameteroftheblockforthereceptionoftherope，andvariousothermachinesfordrilling，riveting，andfinishingtheblocks，besidesthoseformakingthesheaves。
Thetotalnumberofmachinesemployedinthevariousoperationsofmakingaship’sblockbythenewmethodwasforty-four；andafterbeingregularlyemployedinPortsmouthDockyardforupwardsoffiftyyears，theyarestillasperfectintheiractionasonthedaytheywereerected。Theyconstituteoneofthemostingeniousandcompletecollectionsoftoolseverinventedformakingarticlesinwood，beingcapableofperformingmostofthepracticaloperationsofcarpentrywiththeutmostaccuracyandfinish。Themachinesareworkedbyasteam-engineof32-horsepower，whichisalsousedforvariousotherdockyardpurposes。Underthenewsystemofblock-makingitwasfoundthatthearticleswerebettermade，suppliedwithmuchgreaterrapidity，andexecutedatagreatlyreducedcost。Onlytenmen，withthenewmachinery，couldperformtheworkwhichbeforehadrequiredahundredandtenmentoexecute，andnotfewerthan160，000blocksofvariouskindsandsizescouldbeturnedoutinayear，worthnotlessthan541，000L。*
[footnote……
TheremunerationpaidtoMr。Brunelforhisshareintheinventionwasonlyoneyear’ssavings，which，however，wereestimatedbySirSamuelBenthamat17，663l。；besideswhichagrantof5000L。wasafterwardsmadetoBrunelwhenlabouringunderpecuniarydifficulties。ButtheANNUALsavingtothenationbytheadoptionoftheblock-makingmachinerywasprobablymorethantheentiresumpaidtotheengineer。Brunelafterwardsinventedotherwood-workingmachinery，butnonetocompareinmeritandexcellencewiththeabove，Forfurtherparticularsofhiscareer，seeBEAMISH’SMemoirsofSirMarcIsambardBrunel，C。E。London。1862。
Thesatisfactoryexecutionoftheblock-machinerybroughtMaudslayalargeaccessionoffameandbusiness；andthepremisesinMargaretStreetprovingmuchtoolimitedforhisrequirements，heagainresolvedtoshifthisquarters。HefoundapieceofgroundsuitableforhispurposeinWestminsterRoad，Lambeth。LittlemorethanacenturysinceitformedpartofaMarsh，thenameofwhichisstillretainedintheadjoiningstreet；itsprincipalproductionsbeingbulrushesandwillows，whichwerehauntedincertainseasonsbysnipeandwaterfowl。Anenterprisingriding-masterhaderectedsomepremisesonapartofthemarsh，whichheusedforariding-school；
butthespeculationnotanswering，theyweresold，andHenryMaudslaybecametheproprietor。HitherheremovedhismachineryfromMargaretStreetin1810，addingfreshplantfromtimetotimeasitwasrequired；andwiththeaidofhislateexcellentpartnerhebuiltupthefar-famedestablishmentofMaudslay，Field，andCo。Therehewentonimprovinghisoldtoolsandinventingnewones，asthenecessityforthemarose，untiltheoriginalslide-lathesusedformakingtheblock-machinerybecamethrownintotheshadebythecomparativelygiganticmachine-toolsofthemodernschool。YettheoriginallathesarestilltobefoundinthecollectionofthefirminWestminsterRoad，andcontinuetodotheirdailyquotaofworkwiththesameprecisionastheydidwhenturnedoutofthehandsoftheirinventorandmakersomesixtyyearsago。
ItisunnecessarythatweshoulddescribeinanygreatdetailthefurthercareerofHenryMaudslay。Therestofhislifewasfullofusefulandprofitableworktoothersaswellastohimself。Hisbusinessembracedthemakingofflourandsawmills，mintmachinery，andsteam-enginesofallkinds。BeforeheleftMargaretStreet，in1807，hetookoutapatentforimprovementsinthesteam-engine，bywhichhemuchsimplifieditsparts，andsecuredgreaterdirectnessofaction。HisnewenginewascalledthePyramidal，becauseofitsform，andwasthefirstmovetowardswhatarenowcalledDirect-actingEngines，inwhichthelateralmovementofthepistoniscommunicatedbyconnecting-rodstotherotatorymovementofthecrank-shaft。Mr。
Nasmythsaysofit，that”onaccountofitsgreatsimplicityandGET-AT-ABILITYofparts，itscompactnessandself-containedsteadiness，thisenginehasbeentheparentofavastprogeny，allmoreorlessmarkedbythedistinguishingfeaturesoftheoriginaldesign，whichisstillinashighfavourasever。”Mr。Maudslayalsodirectedhisattentioninlikemannertotheimprovementofthemarineengine，whichhemadesosimpleandeffectiveastobecomeinagreatmeasurethetypeofitsclass；andithashelditsgroundalmostunchangedfornearlythirtyyears。The’Regent，’whichwasthefirststeamboatthatpliedbetweenLondonandMargate，wasfittedwithenginesbyMaudslayin1816；anditprovedtheforerunnerofavastnumberofmarineengines，themanufactureofwhichsoonbecameoneofthemostimportantbranchesofmechanicalengineering。