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。