AconsiderablebranchofbusinesscarriedonbythefirmofSharp，Roberts，andCo。wasthemanufactureofironbilliard-tables，whichwereconstructedwithalmostperfecttruthbymeansofMr。Roberts’splaning-machine，andbecamealargearticleofexport。Butamuchmoreimportantandremunerativedepartmentwasthemanufactureoflocomotives，whichwasbegunbythefirmshortlyaftertheopeningoftheLiverpoolandManchesterRailwayhadmarkedthisasoneofthechiefbranchesoffuturemechanicalengineering。Mr。Robertsadroitlyseizedtheopportunitypresentedbythisnewfieldofinventionandenterprise，anddevotedhimselfforatimetothecarefulstudyofthelocomotiveanditspowers。Asearlyastheyear1829wefindhimpresentingtotheManchesterMechanics’Instituteamachineexhibitingthenatureoffrictionuponrailroads，insolutionoftheproblemthenunderdiscussioninthescientificjournals。Inthefollowingyearhepatentedanarrangementforcommunicatingpowertobothdriving-wheelsofthelocomotive，atalltimesintheexactproportionsrequiredwhenturningtotherightorleft，——anarrangementwhichhassincebeenadoptedinmanyroadlocomotivesandagriculturalengines。Inthesamepatentwillbefoundembodiedhisinventionofthesteam-brake，whichwasalsoafavouriteideaofGeorgeStephenson，sinceelaboratedbyMr。MacConnelloftheLondonandNorth-WesternRailway。In1834，Sharp，Roberts，andCo。beganthemanufactureoflocomotivesonalargescale；andthecompactnessoftheirengines，theexcellenceoftheirworkmanship，andthenumerousoriginalimprovementsintroducedinthem，speedilysecuredfortheenginesoftheAtlasfirmahighreputationandaverylargedemand。
AmongMr。Roberts’simprovementsmaybementionedhismethodofmanufacturingthecrankaxle，ofweldingtherimandtyresofthewheels，andhisarrangementandformofthewrought-ironframingandaxle-guards。Hissystemoftempletsandgauges，bymeansofwhicheverypartofanengineortendercorrespondedwiththatofeveryotherengineortenderofthesameclass，wasasgreatanimprovementasMaudslay’ssystemofuniformityofpartsinotherdescriptionsofmachinery。
Inconnectionwiththesubjectofrailways，wemayalludeinpassingtoMr。Roberts’sinventionoftheJacquardpunchingmachine——aself-actingtoolofgreatpower，usedforpunchinganyrequirednumberofholes，ofanypitchandtoanypattern，withmathematicalaccuracy，inbridgeorboilerplates。Theoriginofthisinventionwassomewhatsimilartothatoftheself-actingmule。ThecontractorsfortheConwayTubularBridgewhileunderconstruction，in1848，weregreatlyhamperedbycombinationsamongsttheworkmen，andtheydespairedofbeingabletofinishthegirderswithinthetimespecifiedinthecontract。Thepunchingoftheironplatesbyhandwasatediousandexpensiveaswellasaninaccurateprocess；andtheworkwasproceedingsoslowlythatthecontractorsfounditabsolutelynecessarytoadoptsomenewmethodofpunchingiftheyweretofinishtheworkintime。IntheiremergencytheyappealedtoMr。Roberts，andendeavouredtopersuadehimtotakethematterup。
Heatlengthconsentedtodoso，andevolvedthemachineinquestionduringhisevening’sleisure——forthemostpartwhilequietlysippinghistea。Themachinewasproduced，thecontractorswereenabledtoproceedwiththepunchingoftheplatesindependentoftherefractorymen，andtheworkwasexecutedwithadespatch，accuracy，andexcellencethatwouldnototherwisehavebeenpossible。OnlyafewyearssinceMr。RobertsaddedausefulcompaniontotheJacquardpunchingmachine，inhiscombinedself-actingmachineforshearingironandpunchingbothwebsofangleorTironsimultaneouslytoanyrequiredpitch；thoughthismachine，likeotherswhichhaveproceededfromhisfertilebrain，isaheadevenofthisfast-manufacturingage，andhasnotyetcomeintogeneraluse，butiscertaintodosobeforemanyyearshaveelapsed。
Theseinventionsweresurelyenoughforonemantohaveaccomplished；
butwehavenotyetdone。Themereenumerationofhisotherinventionswouldoccupyseveralpages。Weshallmerelyalludetoafewofthem。OnewashisTurretClock，forwhichheobtainedthemedalattheGreatExhibitionof1851。AnotherwashisPrizeElectro-Magnetof1845。Whenthissubjectwasfirstmentionedtohim，hesaidhedidnotknowanythingofthetheoryorpracticeofelectro-magnetism，buthewouldtryandfindout。Theresultofhistryingwasthathewontheprizeforthemostpowerfulelectro-magnet：oneisplacedinthemuseumatPeelPark，Manchester，andanotherwiththeScottishSocietyofArts，Edinburgh。In1846heperfectedanAmericaninventionformakingcigarsbymachinery；
enablingaboy，workingoneofhiscigar-engines，tomakeasmanyas5000inaday。In1852hepatentedimprovementsintheconstruction，propelling，andequipmentofsteamships，whichhave，webelieve，beenadoptedtoacertainextentbytheAdmiralty；andafewyearslater，in1855，wefindhimpresentingtheSecretaryofWarwithplansofelongatedrifleprojectilestobeusedinsmooth-boreordnancewithaviewtoutilizetheold-patterngun。Hishead，likemanyinventorsofthetime，beingfullofthemechanicsofwar，hewentsofarastowaituponLouisNapoleon，andlaidbeforehimaplanbywhichSebastopolwastobeblowndown。Inshort，uponwhateversubjectheturnedhismind，helefttheimpressofhisinventivefaculty。Ifitwasimperfect，heimprovedit；ifincapableofimprovement，andimpracticable，heinventedsomethingentirelynew，supersedingitaltogether。Butwithallhisinventivegenius，intheexerciseofwhichMr。Robertshassolargelyaddedtotheproductivepowerofthecountry，weregrettosaythatheisnotgiftedwiththecommercialfaculty。Hehashelpedothersintheirdifficulties，butforgottenhimself。Manyhaveprofitedbyhisinventions，withoutevenacknowledgingtheobligationswhichtheyowedtohim。Theyhaveusedhisbrainsandcopiedhistools，andthe”suckedorange”isallbutforgotten。Theremayhavebeenawantofworldlywisdomonhispart，butitislamentabletothinkthatoneofthemostprolificandusefulinventorsofhistimeshouldinhisoldagebelefttofightwithpoverty。
Mr。Whitworthisanotherofthefirst-classtool-makersofManchesterwhohasturnedtoexcellentaccounthistrainingintheworkshopsofMaudslayandClement。HehascarriedfullyoutthesystemofuniformityinScrewThreadswhichtheyinitiated；andhehasstillfurtherimprovedthemechanismoftheplaningmachine，enablingittoworkbothbackwardsandforwardsbymeansofascrewandrollermotion。His”JimCrowMachine，”socalledfromitspeculiarmotioninreversingitselfandworkingbothways，isanextremelybeautifultool，adaptedalikeforhorizontal，vertical，orangularmotions。TheminuteaccuracyofMr。Whitworth’smachinesisnottheleastoftheirmerits；andnothingwillsatisfyhimshortofperfecttruth。AtthemeetingoftheInstituteofMechanicalEngineersatGlasgowin1856
hereadapaperontheessentialimportanceofpossessingatrueplaneasastandardofreferenceinmechanicalconstructions，andhedescribedelaboratelythetruemethodofsecuringit，——namely，byscraping，insteadofbytheordinaryprocessofgrinding。Atthesamemeetingheexhibitedamachineofhisinventionbywhichhestatedthatadifferenceofthemillionthpartofaninchinlengthcouldatoncebedetected。Healsothereurgedhisfavouriteideaofuniformity，andpropergradationsofsizeofparts，inallthevariousbranchesofthemechanicalarts，asachiefmeanstowardseconomyofproduction——aprinciple，asheshowed，capableofveryextensiveapplication。Toshowtheprogressoftoolsandmachineryinhisowntime，Mr。Whitworthcitedthefactthatthirtyyearssincethecostoflabourformakingasurfaceofcast-irontrue——oneofthemostimportantoperationsinmechanics——bychippingandfilingbythehand，was12s。asquarefoot；whereasitisnowdonebytheplaningmachineatacostforlabouroflessthanapenny。Theninmachinery，piecesof74reedprinting-cottonclothof29yardseachcouldnotbeproducedatlesscostthan30s。6d。perpiece；whereasthesamedescriptionisnowsoldfor3s。9d。Mr。Whitworthhasbeenamongthemosteffectiveworkersinthisfieldofimprovement，histoolstakingthefirstplaceinpointofspeed，accuracy，andfinishofwork，inwhichrespectstheychallengecompetitionwiththeworld。Mr。
Whitworthhasoflateyearsbeenapplyinghimselfwithhisaccustomedardourtothedevelopmentofthepowersofrifledgunsandprojectiles，——abranchofmechanicalscienceinwhichheconfessedlyholdsaforemostplace，andinperfectingwhichheisstilloccupied。
CHAPTERXV。
JAMESNASMYTH。”ByHammerandHandAllArtsdothstand。”
Hammermen’sMotto。
ThefounderOftheScotchfamilyofNaesmythissaidtohavederivedhisnamefromthefollowingcircumstance。InthecourseofthefeudswhichragedforsometimebetweentheScotchkingsandtheirpowerfulsubjectstheEarlsofDouglas，arencontretookplaceonedayontheoutskirtsofaBordervillage，whentheking’sadherentswereworsted。Oneofthemtookrefugeinthevillagesmithy，where，hastilydisguisinghimself，anddonningaspareleathernapron，hepretendedtobeengagedinassistingthesmithwithhiswork，whenapartyoftheDouglasfollowersrushedin。Theyglancedatthepretendedworkmanattheanvil，andobservedhimdeliverablowuponitsounskilfullythatthehammer-shaftbrokeinhishand。OnthisoneoftheDouglasmenrushedathim，callingout，”Ye’renaesmyth！”
Theassailedmanseizedhissword，whichlayconvenientlyathand，anddefendedhimselfsovigorouslythatheshortlykilledhisassailant，whilethesmithbrainedanotherwithhishammer；and，apartyoftheking’smenhavingcometotheirhelp，therestwerespeedilyoverpowered。Theroyalforcesthenrallied，andtheirtemporarydefeatwasconvertedintoavictory。Thekingbestowedagrantoflandonhisfollower”NaeSmyth，”whoassumedforhisarmsaswordbetweentwohammerswithbrokenshafts，andthemotto”NonartesedMarte，”asiftodisclaimtheartoftheSmith，inwhichhehadfailed，andtoemphasizethesuperiorityofthewarrior。SuchissaidtobethetraditionaloriginofthefamilyofNaesmythofPossoinPeeblesshire，whocontinuetobearthesamenameandarms。
Itisremarkablethattheinventorofthesteam-hammershouldhavesoeffectuallycontradictedthenamehebearsandreversedthemottoofhisfamily；forsofarfrombeing”NaeSmyth，”hemaynotinappropriatelybedesignatedtheveryVulcanofthenineteenthcentury。Hishammerisatoolofimmensepowerandpliancy，butforwhichwemusthavestoppedshortinmanyofthosegiganticengineeringworkswhichareamongthemarvelsoftheagewelivein。
Itpossessessomuchprecisionanddelicacythatitwillchiptheendofaneggrestinginaglassontheanvilwithoutbreakingit，whileitdeliversablowoftentonswithsuchaforceastobefeltshakingtheparish。ItisthereforewithahighdegreeofappropriatenessthatMr。Nasmythhasdiscardedthefecklesshammerwiththebrokenshaft，andassumedforhisemblemhisownmagnificentsteam-hammer，atthesametimereversingthefamilymotto，whichhehasconvertedinto”NonMartesedArte。”
JamesNasmythbelongstoafamilywhosegeniusinarthaslongbeenrecognised。Hisfather，AlexanderNasmythofEdinburgh，wasalandscape-painterofgreateminence，whoseworksaresometimesconfoundedwiththoseofhissonPatrick，calledtheEnglishHobbema，thoughhisownmeritsarepeculiaranddistinctive。TheelderNasmythwasalsoanadmirableportraitpainter，ashisheadofBurns——thebesteverpaintedofthepoet——bearsamplewitness。Hisdaughters，theMissesNasmyth，werehighlyskilledpaintersoflandscape，andtheirworksarewellknownandmuchprized。James，theyoungestofthefamily，inheritsthesameloveofart，thoughhisnameismoreextensivelyknownasaworkerandinventoriniron。HewasbornatEdinburgh，onthe19thofAugust，1808；andhisattentionwasearlydirectedtomechanicsbythecircumstanceofthisbeingoneofhisfather’shobbies。Besidesbeinganexcellentpainter，Mr。Nasmythhadagoodgeneralknowledgeofarchitectureandcivilengineering，andcouldworkatthelatheandhandletoolswiththedexterityofamechanic。Heemployednearlythewholeofhissparetimeinalittleworkshopwhichadjoinedhisstudio，whereheencouragedhisyoungestsontoworkwithhiminallsortsofmaterials。AmonghisvisitorsatthestudiowereProfessorLeslie，PatrickMillerofDalswinton，andothermenofdistinction。HeassistedMr。Millerinhisearlyexperimentswithpaddle-boats，whicheventuallyledtotheinventionofthesteamboat。Itwasagreatadvantagefortheboytobetrainedbyafatherwhosolovedexcellenceinallitsforms，andcouldministertohisloveofmechanicsbyhisowninstructionandpractice。Jamesusedtodrinkinwithpleasureandprofittheconversationwhichpassedbetweenhisfatherandhisvisitorsonscientificandmechanicalsubjects；andashebecameolder，theresolvegrewstrongerinhimeverydaythathewouldbeamechanicalengineer，andnothingelse。Ataproperage，hewassenttotheHighSchool，thenasnowcelebratedfortheexcellenceofitsinstruction，andtherehelaidthefoundationsofasoundandliberaleducation。
Buthehashimselftoldthesimplestoryofhisearlylifeinsuchgraphictermsthatwefeelwecannotdobetterthanquotehisownwords：-*
[footnote……
OriginallypreparedforJohnHick，Esq。，C。E。，ofBolton，andembodiedbyhiminhislectureson”SelfHelp，”deliveredbeforetheHolyTrinityWorkingMen’sAssociationofthattown，onthe18thand20thMarch，1862；theaccounthavingbeenkindlycorrectedbyMr。
Nasmythforthepresentpublication。”Ihadthegoodluck，”hesays，”tohaveforaschoolcompanionthesonofanironfounder。EverysparehourthatIcouldcommandwasdevotedtovisitstohisfather’sironfoundry，whereIdelightedtowatchthevariousprocessesofmoulding，iron-melting，casting，forging，pattern-making，andothersmithandmetalwork；andalthoughIwasonlyabouttwelveyearsoldatthetime，Iusedtolendahand，inwhichheartyzealdidagooddealtomakeupforwantofstrength。
IlookbacktotheSaturdayafternoonsspentintheworkshopsofthatsmallfoundry，asanimportantpartofmyeducation。Ididnottrusttoreadingaboutsuchandsuchthings；Isawandhandledthem；andalltheideasinconnectionwiththembecamepermanentinmymind。I
alsoobtainedthere——whatwasofmuchvaluetomeinafterlife——
aconsiderableacquaintancewiththenatureandcharactersofworkmen。BythetimeIwasfifteen，Icouldworkandturnoutreallyrespectablejobsinwood，brass，iron，andsteel：indeed，intheworkingofthelatterinestimablematerial，Ihadataveryearlyageelevenortwelveacquiredconsiderableproficiency。Asthatwasthepre-lucifermatchperiod，thepossessionofasteelandtinderboxwasquiteapatentofnobilityamongboys。SoIusedtoforgeoldfilesinto’steels’inmyfather’slittleworkshop，andhardenthemandproducesuchfirst-rate，neatlittlearticlesinthatline，thatIbecamequitefamousamongstmyschoolcompanions；andmanyataskhaveIhadexcusedmebybribingthemonitor，whosegrimsenseofdutynevercouldwithstandtheglimpseofasteel。”MyfirstessayatmakingasteamenginewaswhenIwasfifteen。I
thenmadearealworking；steam-engine，13/4diametercylinder，and8in。stroke，whichnotonlycouldact，butreallydidsomeusefulwork；forImadeitgrindtheoilcolourswhichmyfatherrequiredforhispainting。Steamenginemodels，nowsocommon，wereexceedinglyscarceinthosedays，andverydifficulttobehad；andasthedemandforthemarose，Ifounditbothdelightfulandprofitabletomakethem；aswellassectionalmodelsofsteamengines，whichIintroducedforthepurposeofexhibitingthemovementsofalltheparts，bothexteriorandinterior。WiththeresultsofthesaleofsuchmodelsIwasenabledtopaythepriceofticketsofadmissiontothelecturesonnaturalphilosophyandchemistrydeliveredintheUniversityofEdinburgh。Aboutthesametime1826IwassohappyastobeemployedbyProfessorLeslieinmakingmodelsandportionsofapparatusrequiredbyhimforhislecturesandphilosophicalinvestigations，andIhadalsotheinestimablegoodfortunetosecurehisfriendship。Hisadmirablyclearmannerofcommunicatingaknowledgeofthefundamentalprinciplesofmechanicalsciencerenderedmyintercoursewithhimoftheutmostimportancetomyself。Ahearty，cheerful，earnestdesiretotoilinhisservice，causedhimtotakepleasureininstructingmebyoccasionalexplanationsofwhatmightotherwisehaveremainedobscure。