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Watt endeavoured to remedy the defect by keeping certain sets of
workmen to special classes of work； allowing them to do nothing else。
Fathers were induced to bring up their sons at the same bench with
themselves； and initiate them in the dexterity which they had
acquired by experience； and at Soho it was not unusual for the same
precise line of work to be followed by members of the same family for
three generations。 In this way as great a degree of accuracy of a
mechanical kind was arrived at was practicable under the
circumstances。 But notwithstanding all this care； accuracy of fitting
could not be secured so long as the manufacture of steam…engines was
conducted mainly by hand。 There was usually a considerable waste of
steam； which the expedients of chewed paper and greased hat packed
outside the piston were insufficient to remedy； and it was not until
the invention of automatic machine…tools by the mechanical engineers
about to be mentioned； that the manufacture of the steam…engine
became a matter of comparative ease and certainty。 Watt was compelled
to rest satisfied with imperfect results； arising from imperfect
workmanship。 Thus； writing to Dr。 Small respecting a cylinder 18
inches in diameter； he said； 〃at the worst place the long diameter
exceeded the short by only three…eighths of an inch。〃 How different
from the state of things at this day； when a cylinder five feet wide
will be rejected as a piece of imperfect workmanship if it be found
to vary in any part more than the 80th part of an inch in diameter！
Not fifty years since it was a matter of the utmost difficulty to set
an engine to work； and sometimes of equal difficulty to keep it
going。 Though fitted by competent workmen； it often would not go at
all。 Then the foreman of the factory at which it was made was sent
for； and he would almost live beside the engine for a month or more；
and after easing her here and screwing her up there； putting in a new
part and altering an old one； packing the piston and tightening the
valves； the machine would at length begot to work。*
＇footnote。。。
There was the same clumsiness in all kinds of mill…work before the
introduction of machine…tools。 We have heard of a piece of machinery
of the old school； the wheels of which； when set to work； made such a
clatter that the owner feared the engine would fall to pieces。 The
foreman who set it agoing； after working at it until he was almost in
despair； at last gave it up； saving； 〃I think we had better leave the
cogs to settle their differences with one another： they will grind
themselves right in time！〃
。。。＇
Now the case is altogether different。 The perfection of modern
machine…tools is such that the utmost possible precision is secured；
and the mechanical engineer can calculate on a degree of exactitude
that does not admit of a deviation beyond the thousandth part of an
inch。 When the powerful oscillating engines of the 'Warrior' were put
on board that ship； the parts； consisting of some five thousand
separate pieces； were brought from the different workshops of the
Messrs。 Penn and Sons； where they had been made by workmen who knew
not the places they were to occupy； and fitted together with such
precision that so soon as the steam was raised and let into the
cylinders； the immense machine began as if to breathe and move like a
living creature； stretching its huge arms like a new…born giant； and
then； after practising its strength a little and proving its
soundness in body and limb； it started off with the power of above a
thousand horses to try its strength in breasting the billows of the
North Sea。
Such are among the triumphs of modern mechanical engineering； due in
a great measure to the perfection of the tools by means of which all
works in metal are now fashioned。 These tools are themselves among
the most striking results of the mechanical invention of the day。
They are automata of the most perfect kind； rendering the engine and
machine…maker in a great measure independent of inferior workmen。 For
the machine tools have no unsteady hand； are not careless nor clumsy；
do not work by rule of thumb； and cannot make mistakes。 They will
repeat their operations a thousand times without tiring； or varying
one hair's breadth in their action； and will turn out； without
complaining； any quantity of work； all of like accuracy and finish。
Exercising as they do so remarkable an influence on the development
of modem industry； we now propose； so far as the materials at our
disposal will admit； to give an account of their principal inventors；
beginning with the school of Bramah。
CHAPTER XI。
JOSEPH BRAMAH。
〃The great Inventor is one who has walked forth upon the industrial
world； not from universities； but from hovels； not as clad in silks
and decked with honours； but as clad in fustian and grimed with soot
and oil。〃ISAAC TAYLOR； Ultimate Civilization。
The inventive faculty is so strong in some men that it may be said to
amount to a passion； and cannot be restrained。 The saying that the
poet is born； not made； applies with equal force to the inventor；
who； though indebted like the other to culture and improved
opportunities； nevertheless invents and goes on inventing mainly to
gratify his own instinct。 The inventor； however； is not a creator
like the poet； but chiefly a finder…out。 His power consists in a
great measure in quick perception and accurate observation； and in
seeing and foreseeing the effects of certain mechanical combinations。
He must possess the gift of insight； as well as of manual dexterity；
combined with the indispensable qualities of patience and
perseverance；for though baffled； as he often is； he must be ready
to rise up again unconquered even in the moment of defeat。 This is
the stuff of which the greatest inventors have been made。 The subject
of the following memoir may not be entitled to take rank as a
first…class inventor； though he was a most prolific one； but； as the
founder of a school from which proceeded some of the most
distinguished mechanics of our time； he is entitled to a prominent
place in this series of memoirs。
Joseph Bramah was born in 1748 at the village of Stainborough； near
Barnsley in Yorkshire； where his father rented a small farm under
Lord Strafford。 Joseph was the eldest of five children； and was early
destined to follow the plough。 After receiving a small amount of
education at the village school； he was set to work upon the farm。
From an early period he showed signs of constructive skill。 When a
mere boy； he occupied his leisure hours in making musical
instruments； and he succeeded in executing some creditable pieces of
work with very imperfect tools。 A violin； which he made out of a
solid block of wood； was long preserved as a curiosity。 He was so
fortunate as to make a friend of the village blacksmith； whose smithy
he was in the practice of frequenting。 The smith was an ingenious
workman； and； having taken a liking for the boy； he made sundry tools
for him out of old files and razor blades； and with these his fiddle
and other pieces of work were mainly executed。
Joseph might have remained a ploughman for life； but for an accident
which happened to his right ankle at the age of 16； which unfitted
him for farm…work。 While confined at home disabled he spent his time
in carving and making things in wood； and then it occurred to him
that； though he could not now be a ploughman； he might be a mechanic。
When sufficiently recovered； he was accordingly put apprentice to one
Allott； the village carpenter； under whom he soon became an expert
workman。 He could make ploughs； window…frames； or fiddles； with equal
dexterity。 He also made violoncellos； and was so fortunate as to sell
one of his making for three guineas； which is still reckoned a good
instrument。 He doubtless felt within him the promptings of ambition；
such as every go