按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Middleton colliery railway near Leeds； on which it began to run in
1812； and continued in regular use for many years。 In this engine he
introduced the double cylinderTrevithick's engine being provided
with only one cylinder； the defects of which were supplemented by the
addition of a fly…wheel to carry the crank over the dead points。
But Matthew Murray's most important inventions； considered in their
effects on manufacturing industry； were those connected with the
machinery for heckling and spinning flax； which he very greatly
improved。 His heckling machine obtained for him the prize of the gold
medal of the Society of Arts； and this as well as his machine for wet
flax…spinning by means of sponge weights proved of the greatest
practical value。 At the time when these inventions were made the flax
trade was on the point of expiring； the spinners being unable to
produce yarn to a profit； and their almost immediate effect was to
reduce the cost of production； to improve immensely the quality of
the manufacture； and to establish the British linen trade on a solid
foundation。 The production of flax…machinery became an important
branch of manufacture at Leeds； large quantities being made for use
at home as well as for exportation； giving employment to an
increasing number of highly skilled mechanics。*
＇footnote。。。
Among more recent improvers of flax…machinery； the late Sir Peter
Fairbairn is entitled to high merit： the work turned out by him being
of first…rate excellence； embodying numerous inventions and
improvements of great value and importance。
。。。＇
Mr。 Murray's faculty for organising work； perfected by experience；
enabled him also to introduce many valuable improvements in the
mechanics of manufacturing。 His pre…eminent skill in mill…gearing
became generally acknowledged； and the effects of his labours are
felt to this day in the extensive and still thriving branches of
industry which his ingenuity and ability mainly contributed to
establish。 All the machine tools used in his establishment were
designed by himself； and he was most careful in the personal
superintendence of all the details of their construction。 Mr。 Murray
died at Leeds in 1826； in his sixty…third year。
We have not yet exhausted the list of claimants to the invention of
the Planing Machine； for we find still another in the person of
Richard Roberts of Manchester； one of the most prolific of modem
inventors。 Mr。 Roberts has indeed achieved so many undisputed
inventions； that he can readily afford to divide the honour in this
case with others。 He has contrived things so various as the
self…acting mule and the best electro…magnet； wet gas…meters and dry
planing machines； iron billard…tables and turret…clocks； the
centrifugal railway and the drill slotting…machine； an apparatus for
making cigars and machinery for the propulsion and equipment of
steamships； so that he may almost be regarded as the Admirable
Crichton of modem mechanics。
Richard Roberts was born in 1789； at Carreghova in the parish of
Llanymynech。 His father was by trade a shoemaker； to which he
occasionally added the occupation of toll…keeper。 The house in which
Richard was born stood upon the border line which then divided the
counties of Salop and Montgomery； the front door opening in the one
county； and the back door in the other。 Richard； when a boy； received
next to no education； and as soon as he was of fitting age was put to
common labouring work。 For some time he worked in a quarry near his
father's dwelling； but being of an ingenious turn； he occupied his
leisure in making various articles of mechanism； partly for amusement
and partly for profit。 One of his first achievements； while working
as a quarryman； was a spinning…wheel； of which he was very proud； for
it was considered 〃a good job。〃 Thus he gradually acquired dexterity
in handling tools； and he shortly came to entertain the ambition of
becoming a mechanic。
There were several ironworks in the neighbour hood； and thither he
went in search of employment。 He succeeded in finding work as a
pattern…maker at Bradley； near Bilston； under John Wilkinson； the
famous ironmastera man of great enterprise as well as mechanical
skill； for he was the first man； as already stated； that Watt could
find capable of boring a cylinder with any approach to truth； for the
purposes of his steam…engines。 After acquiring some practical
knowledge of the art of working in wood as well as iron； Roberts
proceeded to Birmingham； where he passed through different shops；
gaining further experience in mechanical practice。 He tried his hand
at many kinds of work； and acquired considerable dexterity in each。
He was regarded as a sort of jack…of…all…trades； for he was a good
turner； a tolerable wheel…wright； and could repair mill…work at a
pinch。
He next moved northward to the Horsley ironworks； Tipton； where he
was working as a pattern…maker when he had the misfortune to be drawn
in his own county for the militia。 He immediately left his work and
made his way homeward to Llanymynech； determined not to be a soldier
or even a militiaman。 But home was not the place for him to rest in；
and after bidding a hasty adieu to his father； he crossed the country
northward on foot and reached Liverpool； in the hope of finding work
there。 Failing in that； he set out for Manchester and reached it at
dusk； very weary and very miry in consequence of the road being in
such a wretched state of mud and ruts。 He relates that； not knowing a
person in the town； he went up to an apple…stall ostensibly to buy a
pennyworth of apples； but really to ask the stall…keeper if he knew
of any person in want of a hand。 Was there any turner in the
neighbourhood？ Yes； round the corner。 Thither he went at once； found
the wood…turner in； and was promised a job on the following morning。
He remained with the turner for only a short time； after which he
found a job in Salford at lathe and tool…making。 But hearing that the
militia warrant…officers were still searching for him； he became
uneasy and determined to take refuge in London。
He trudged all the way on foot to that great hiding…place； and first
tried Holtzapffel's； the famous tool…maker's； but failing in his
application he next went to Maudslay's and succeeded in getting
employment。 He worked there for some time； acquiring much valuable
practical knowledge in the use of tools； cultivating his skill by
contact with first…class workmen； and benefiting by the spirit of
active contrivance which pervaded the Maudslay shops。 His manual
dexterity greatly increased； and his inventive ingenuity fully
stimulated； he determined on making his way back to Manchester；
which； even more than London itself； at that time presented abundant
openings for men of mechanical skill。 Hence we find so many of the
best mechanics trained at Maudslay's and Clement'sNasmyth； Lewis；
Muir； Roberts； Whitworth； and othersshortly rising into distinction
there as leading mechanicians and tool…makers。
The mere enumeration of the various results of Mr。 Roberts's
inventive skill during the period of his settlement at Manchester as
a mechanical engineer； would occupy more space than we can well
spare。 But we may briefly mention a few of the more important。 In
1816； while carrying on business on his own account in Deansgate； he
invented his improved sector for correctly sizing wheels in blank
previously to their being cut； which is still extensively used。 In
the same year he invented his improved screw…lathe； and in the
following year； at the request of the boroughreeve and constables of
Manchester； he contrived an oscillating and rotating wet gas meter of
a new kind； which enabled them to sell gas by measure。 This was the
first meter in which a water lute was applied to prevent the escape
of gas by the index shaft； the want of which； as well as its great
complexity； had preven