AnotherofMr。Maudslay’sinventionswashismachineforpunchingboiler-plates,bywhichtheproductionofironworkofmanykindswasgreatlyfacilitated。ThisimprovementoriginatedinthecontractwhichheheldforsomeyearsforsupplyingtheRoyalNavywithironplatesforships’tanks。Theoperationsofshearingandpunchinghadbeforebeenveryimperfectlydonebyhand,withgreatexpenditureoflabour。Toimprovethestyleoftheworkandlessenthelabour,Maudslayinventedthemachinenowingeneraluse,bywhichtheholespunchedintheironplateareexactlyequidistant,andthesubsequentoperationofrivetingisgreatlyfacilitated。Oneoftheresultsoftheimprovedmethodwasthegreatsavingwhichwasatonceeffectedinthecostofpreparingtheplatestoreceivetherivets,thepriceofwhichwasreducedfromsevenshillingspertanktoninepence。Hecontinuedtodevotehimselftothelasttotheimprovementofthelathe,——inhisopinionthemaster-machine,thelifeandsoulofengine-turning,ofwhichtheplaning,screw-cutting,andothermachinesincommonuse,arebutmodifications。Inoneoftheearlylatheswhichhecontrivedandmade,themandrillwasnineinchesindiameter;itwasdrivenbywheel-gearinglikeacranemotion,andadaptedtodifferentspeeds。Someofhisfriends,onfirstlookingatit,saidhewasgoing”toofast;”buthelivedtoseeworkprojectedonsolargeascaleastoprovethathisconceptionswerejust,andthathehadmerelyanticipatedbyafewyearsthemechanicalprogressofhistime。Hislargeremovablebar-lathewasahighlyimportanttoolofthesamekind。Itwasusedtoturnsurfacesmanyfeetindiameter。Whileitcouldbeusedforboringwheels,ortheside-rodsofmarineengines,itcouldturnarollerorcylindertwiceorthreetimesthediameterofitsowncentresfromtheground-level,andindeedcoulddriveroundworkofanydiameterthatwouldcleartheroofoftheshop。Thiswasthereforeanalmostuniversaltool,capableofveryextensiveuses。Indeedmuchoftheworknowexecutedbymeansofspecialtools,suchastheplaningorslottingmachine,wasthendoneinthelathe,whichwasusedasacutter-shapingmachine,fittedwithvariousappliancesaccordingtothework。
Maudslay’sloveofaccuracyalsoledhimfromanearlyperiodtostudythesubjectofimprovedscrew-cutting。Theimportanceofthisdepartmentofmechanismcanscarcelybeoverrated,thesolidityandpermanencyofmostmechanicalstructuresmainlydependingontheemploymentofthescrew,atthesametimethatthepartscanbereadilyseparatedforrenewalorrepair。Anyonecanformanideaoftheimportanceofthescrewasanelementinmechanicalconstructionbyexaminingsayasteam-engine,andcountingthenumberofscrewsemployedinholdingittogether。Previoustothetimeatwhichthesubjectoccupiedtheattentionofourmechanic,thetoolsusedformakingscrewswereofthemostrudeandinexactkind。Thescrewswereforthemostpartcutbyhand:thesmallbyfiling,thelargerbychippingandfiling。Inconsequenceofthegreatdifficultyofmakingthem,asfewwereusedaspossible;andcotters,cotterils,orforelocks,wereemployedinstead。Screws,however,weretoacertainextentindispensable;andeachmanufacturingestablishmentmadethemaftertheirownfashion。Therewasanutterwantofuniformity。Nosystemwasobservedasto”pitch,”i。e。thenumberofthreadstotheinch,norwasanyrulefollowedastotheformofthosethreads。
Everyboltandnutwassortofspecialtyinitself,andneitherowednoradmittedofanycommunitywithitsneighbours。Tosuchanextentwasthisirregularitycarried,thatallboltsandtheircorrespondingnutshadtobemarkedasbelongingtoeachother;andanymixingofthemtogetherledtoendlesstrouble,hopelessconfusion,andenormousexpense。Indeednonebutthosewholivedinthecomparativelyearlydaysofmachine-manufacturecanformanadequateideaoftheannoyanceoccasionedbythewantofsysteminthisbranchofdetail,ordulyappreciatetheservicesrenderedbyMaudslaytomechanicalengineeringbythepracticalmeasureswhichhewasamongthefirsttointroduceforitsremedy。Inhissystemofscrew-cuttingmachinery,histapsanddies,andscrew-tacklegenerally,helaidthefoundationsofallthathassincebeendoneinthisessentialbranchofmachine-construction,inwhichhewassoablyfollowedupbyseveraloftheeminentmechanicsbroughtupinhisschool,andmoreespeciallybyJosephClementandJosephWhitworth。Oneofhisearliestself-actingscrewlathes,movedbyaguide-screwandwheelsaftertheplanfollowedbythelatterengineer,cutscrewsoflargediameterandofanyrequiredpitch。Asanillustrationofitscompletenessandaccuracy,wemaymentionthatbyitsmeansascrewfivefeetinlength,andtwoinchesindiameter,wascutwithfiftythreadstotheinch;thenuttofitontoitbeingtwelveincheslong,andcontainingsixhundredthreads。Thisscrewwasprincipallyusedfordividingscalesforastronomicalpurposes;andbyitsmeansdivisionswereproducedsominutethattheycouldnotbedetectedwithouttheaidofamagnifier。Thescrew,whichwassentforexhibitiontotheSocietyofArts,isstillcarefullypreservedamongstthespecimensofMaudslay’shandicraftattheLambethWorks,andisapieceofdelicateworkwhicheveryskilledmechanicwillthoroughlyappreciate。Yetthetoolbywhichthisfinepieceofturningwasproducedwasnotanexceptionaltool,butwasdailyemployedintheordinaryworkofthemanufactory。
Likeeverygoodworkmanwhotakesprideinhiscraft,hekepthistoolsinfirst-rateorder,clean,andtidilyarranged,sothathecouldlayhishanduponthethinghewantedatonce,withoutlossoftime。Theyarestillpreservedinthestateinwhichheleftthem,andstrikinglyillustratehisloveoforder,”nattiness,”anddexterity。Mr。Nasmythsaysofhimthatyoucouldseetheman’scharacterinwhateverworkheturnedout;andastheconnoisseurinartwillexclaimatsightofapicture,”ThatisTurner,”or”ThatisStansfield,”detectingthehandofthemasterinit,sotheexperiencedmechanician,atsightofoneofhismachinesorengines,willbeequallyreadytoexclaim,”ThatisMaudslay;”forthecharacteristicstyleofthemaster-mindisascleartotheexperiencedeyeinthecaseofthefinishedmachineasthetouchesoftheartist’spencilareinthecaseofthefinishedpicture。Everymechanicalcontrivancethatbecamethesubjectofhisstudycameforthfromhishandandmindrearranged,simplified,andmadenew,withtheimpressofhisindividualitystampeduponit。Heatoncestrippedthesubjectofallunnecessarycomplications;forhepossessedawonderfulfacultyofKNOWINGWHATTODOWITHOUT——theresultofhisclearnessofinsightintomechanicaladaptations,andtheaccurateandwell-definednotionshehadformedofthepreciseobjecttobeaccomplished。”Everymemberorseparatemachineinthesystemofblock-machinerysaysMr。Nasmyth,”isfullofMaudslay’spresence;andinthatmachinery,asconstructedbyhim,istobefoundtheparentofeveryengineeringtoolbytheaidofwhichwearenowachievingsuchgreatthingsinmechanicalconstruction。TothetoolsofwhichMaudslayfurnishedtheprototypesarewemainlyindebtedfortheperfectionofourtextilemachinery,ourlocomotives,ourmarineengines,andthevariousimplementsofart,ofagriculture,andofwar。Ifanyonewhocanenterintothedetailsofthissubjectwillbeatthepainstoanalyse,ifImaysotermit,themachineryofourmodernengineeringworkshops,hewillfindinallofthemthestrongly-markedfeaturesofMaudslay’sparentmachine,thesliderestandslidesystem——whetheritbeaplaningmachine,aslottingmachine,aslide-lathe,oranyotherofthewonderfultoolswhicharenowenablingustoaccomplishsomuchinmechanism。”
OneofthethingsinwhichMr。Maudslaytookjustpridewasintheexcellenceofhiswork。Indesigningandexecutingit,hismainobjectwastodoitinthebestpossiblestyleandfinish,altogetherirrespectiveoftheprobablepecuniaryresults。Thisheregardedinthelightofadutyhecouldnotandwouldnotevade,independentofitsbeingagoodinvestmentforsecuringafuturereputation;andthecharacterwhichhethusobtained,althoughattimespurchasedatgreatcost,eventuallyjustifiedthesoundnessofhisviews。AstheeminentMr。Penn,theheadofthegreatengineeringfirm,isaccustomedtosay,”Icannotaffordtoturnoutsecond-ratework,”soMr。Maudslayfoundbothcharacterandprofitinstrivingafterthehighestexcellenceinhisproductions。Hewasparticularevenintheminutestdetails。Thusoneofthepointsonwhichheinsisted——apparentlyatrivialmatter,butinrealityofconsiderableimportanceinmechanicalconstruction——wastheavoidanceofsharpinterioranglesinironwork,whetherwroughtorcast;forhefoundthatinsuchinterioranglescrackswereapttooriginate;andwhenthearticlewasatool,thesharpanglewaslesspleasanttothehandaswellastotheeye。Intheapplicationofhisfavouriteroundorhollowcornersystem——as,forinstance,inthecaseofthepointsofjunctionofthearmsofawheelwithitscentreandrim——heusedtoillustrateitssuperioritybyholdinguphishandandpointingouttheniceroundedhollowatthejunctionofthefingers,orbyreferringtothejunctionofthebranchestothestemofatree。
Hencehemadeapointofhavingalltheanglesofhismachineframeworknicelyroundedoffontheirexterior,andcarefullyhollowedintheirinteriorangles。Inforgingsucharticleshewouldsoshapehismetalbeforebendingthattheresultshouldbetherightholloworroundedcornerwhenbent;theanticipatedexternalanglefallingintoitsproperplacewhenthebarsoshapedwasbroughttoitsultimateform。Inallsuchmattersofdetailhewasgreatlyassistedbyhisearlydexterityasablacksmith;andheusedtosaythattobeagoodsmithyoumustbeabletoSEEinthebarofirontheobjectproposedtobegotoutofitbythehammerorthetool,justasthesculptorissupposedtoseeintheblockofstonethestatuewhichheproposestobringforthfromitbyhismindandhischisel。
Mr。Maudslaydidnotallowhimselftoforgethisskillintheuseofthehammer,andtothelasthetookpleasureinhandlingit,sometimesinthewayofbusiness,andoftenthroughsheerloveofhisart。MrNasmythsays,”Itwasoneofmyduties,whileactingasassistantinhisbeautifullittleworkshop,tokeepupastockofhandybarsofleadwhichhehadplacedonashelfunderhiswork-bench,whichwasofthickslateforthemorereadymakingofhisusualillustrativesketchesofmachineryinchalk。Hisloveofiron-forgingledhimtotakedelightinforgingthemodelsofworktobeultimatelydoneiniron;andcoldleadbeingofaboutthesamemalleabilityasred-hotiron,furnishedaconvenientmaterialforillustratingthemethodtobeadoptedwiththelargework。Iwellrememberthesmileofsatisfactionthatlituphishonestfacewhenhemetwithagoodexcusefor’havingagoat’oneofthebarsofleadwithhammerandanvilasifitwereabarofiron;andhow,withafewdexterousstrokes,punchingsofholes,androundednotches,hewouldgivetheroughbarorblockitsdesiredform。Healwaysaimedatworkingitoutofthesolidasmuchaspossible,soastoavoidtheriskofanyconcealeddefect,towhichironworkbuiltupofweldedpartsissoliable;andwhenhehadthuscleverlyfinishedhismodel,heusedforthwithtosendfortheforemanofsmiths,andshowhimhowhewastoinstructhismenastotheproperforgingofthedesiredobject。”OneofMr。Maudslay’soldworkmen,wheninformingusoftheskilfulmannerinwhichhehandledthefile,said,”Itwasapleasuretoseehimhandleatoolofanykind,buthewasQUITE
SPLENDIDwithaneighteen-inchfile!”Theviceatwhichheworkedwasconstructedbyhimself,anditwasperfectofitskind。Itcouldbeturnedroundtoanypositiononthebench;thejawswouldturnfromthehorizontaltotheperpendicularoranyotherposition——upside-downifnecessary——andtheywouldopentwelveinchesparallel。
Mr。NasmythfurnishesthefollowingfurtherrecollectionsofMr。
Maudslay,whichwillserveinsomemeasuretoillustratehispersonalcharacter。”HenryMaudslay,”hesays,”livedinthedaysofsnuff-taking,whichunhappily,asIthink,hasgivenwaytothecigar-smokingsystem。Heenjoyedhisoccasionalpinchverymuch。Itgenerallyprecededthegivingoutofanewnotionorsuggestionforanimprovementoralterationofsomejobinhand。Aswithmostofthosewhoenjoytheirpinch,aboutthreetimesasmuchwastakenbetweenthefingersaswasutilizedbythenose,andtheconsequencewasthatalargeunconsumedsurpluscollectedinthefoldsofthemaster’swaistcoatashesatworkingathisbench。Sometimesafile,oratool,orsomesmallpieceofworkwoulddrop,andthenitwasmydutytogodownonmykneesandfetchitup。Onsuchoccasions,whilewaitingforthearticle,hewouldtaketheopportunityofpullingdownhiswaistcoatfront,whichhadbecomedisarrangedbyhisenergeticworkingatthebench;andmanyatimehaveIcomeupwiththedroppedarticle,half-blindedbythesnuffjerkedintomyeyesfromoffhiswaistcoatfront。”Allthewhilehewasatworkhewouldbenarratingsomeincidentinhispastlife,ordescribingtheprogressofsomenewandimportantundertaking,inillustratingwhichhewouldusethebitofchalkreadytohishandupontheslatebenchbeforehim,whichwasthusinalmostconstantuse。OneofthepleasuresheindulgedinwhilehesatatworkwasMusic,ofwhichhewasveryfond,——moreparticularlyofmelodiesandairswhichtookalastingholdonhismind。Hencehewasneverwithoutanassortmentofmusicalboxes,someofwhichwereofalargesize。Oneofthesehewouldsetagoingonhislibrarytable,whichwasnexttohisworkshop,andwiththedoorkeptopen,hewasthusenabledtoenjoythemusicwhilehesatworkingathisbench。
Intimatefriendswouldfrequentlycalluponhimandsitbythehour,butthoughtalkingallthewhileheneverdroppedhiswork,butcontinuedemployedonitwithasmuchzealasifhewereonlybeginninglife。HisoldfriendSirSamuelBenthamwasafrequentcallerinthisway,aswellasSirIsambardBrunelwhileoccupiedwithhisThamesTunnelworks*
[footnote……
AmongthelastworksexecutedbythefirmduringMr。Maudslay’slifetimewasthefamousShieldemployedbyhisfriendBrunelincarryingforwardtheexcavationoftheThamesTunnel。Healsosuppliedthepumping-enginesforthesamegreatwork,thecompletionofwhichhedidnotlivetosee。
andMr。Chantrey,whowasaccustomedtoconsulthimaboutthecastingofhisbronzestatuary。Mr。BartonoftheRoyalMint,andMr。
Donkintheengineer,withwhomMr。BartonwasassociatedinascertaininganddevisingacorrectsystemofdividingtheStandardYard,andmanyothers,hadlikeaudienceofMr。Maudslayinhislittleworkshop,forfriendlyconverse,foradvice,oronaffairsofbusiness。”Itwasaspecialandconstantpracticewithhimonaworkman’sholiday,oronaSundaymorning,totakeawalkthroughhisworkshopswhenallwasquiet,andthenandthereexaminethevariousjobsinhand。Onsuchoccasionshecarriedwithhimapieceofchalk,withwhich,inaneatandverylegiblehand,hewouldrecordhisremarksinthemostpithyandsometimescausticterms。Anyevidenceofwantofcorrectnessinsettingthingssquare,orin’flatfiling,’whichheheldinhighesteem,oruntidinessinnotsweepingdownthebenchandlayingthetoolsinorder,wassuretohavearecordinchalkmadeonthespot。Ifitwasamildcase,thereproofwasrecordedingentleterms,simplytoshowthatthemaster’seyewasontheworkman;butwherethecasedeservedheartyapprobationorrequiredequallyheartyreproof,thewordsemployedwerefew,butwentstraighttothemark。Thesechalkjottingsonthebenchwereheldinthehighestrespectbytheworkmenthemselves,whethertheyconveyedpraiseorblame,astheyweresuretobedeserved;andwhenthemennextassembled,itsoonbecameknownallovertheshopwhohadreceivedthehonourorotherwiseofoneofthemaster’sbenchmemorandainchalk。”
Thevigilant,thecritical,andyetwithalthegenerouseyeofthemasterbeingoverallhisworkmen,itwillreadilybeunderstoodhowMaudslay’sworkscametoberegardedasafirst-classschoolformechanicalengineers。Everyonefeltthatthequalityofhisworkmanshipwasfullyunderstood;and,ifhehadtherightstuffinhim,andwasdeterminedtoadvance,thathisprogressinskillwouldbethoroughlyappreciated。Itisscarcelynecessarytopointouthowthisfeeling,pervadingtheestablishment,musthaveoperated,notonlyinmaintainingthequalityofthework,butinimprovingthecharacteroftheworkmen。Theresultswerefeltintheincreasedpracticalabilityofalargenumberofartisans,someofwhomsubsequentlyrosetothehighestdistinction。IndeeditmaybesaidthatwhatOxfordandCambridgeareinletters,workshopssuchasMaudslay’sandPenn’sareinmechanics。NorcanOxfordandCambridgemenbeprouderoftheconnectionwiththeirrespectivecollegesthanmechanicssuchasWhitworth,Nasmyth,Roberts,Muir,andLewis,areoftheirconnectionwiththeschoolofMaudslay。Forallthesedistinguishedengineersatonetimeoranotherformedpartofhisworkingstaff,andweretrainedtotheexerciseoftheirspecialabilitiesunderhisowneye。Theresulthasbeenadevelopmentofmechanicalabilitythelikeofwhichperhapsisnottobefoundinanyageorcountry。