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and business； and as he was more than satisfied with the manner in
which his mill machinery had been planned and executed； he sounded
their praises in all quarters。 Orders poured in upon them so rapidly；
that they had difficulty in keeping pace with the demands of the
trade。 They then removed from their original shed to larger premises
in Matherstreet； where they erected additional lathes and other
tool…machines； and eventually a steam…engine。 They afterwards added a
large cellar under an adjoining factory to their premises； and from
time to time provided new means of turning out work with increased
efficiency and despatch。 In due course of time the firm erected a
factory of their own； fitted with the most improved machinery for
turning out millwork； and they went on from one contract to another；
until their reputation as engineers became widely celebrated。 In
1826…7； they supplied the water…wheels for the extensive cotton…mills
belonging to Kirkman Finlay and Company； at Catrine Bank in Ayrshire。
These wheels are even at this day regarded as among the most perfect
hydraulic machines in Europe。 About the same time they supplied the
mill gearing and water…machinery for Messrs。 Escher and Company's
large works at Zurich； among the largest cotton manufactories on the
continent。
In the mean while the industry of Manchester and the neighbourhood；
through which the firm had risen and prospered； was not neglected；
but had the full benefit of the various improvements which they were
introducing in mill machinery。 In the course of a few years an entire
revolution was effected in the gearing。 Ponderous masses of timber
and cast…iron； with their enormous bearings and couplings； gave place
to slender rods of wrought…iron and light frames or hooks by which
they were suspended。 In like manner； lighter yet stronger wheels and
pulleys were introduced； the whole arrangements were improved； and；
the workmanship being greatly more accurate； friction was avoided；
while the speed was increased from about 40 to upwards of 300
revolutions a minute。 The fly…wheel of the engine was also converted
into a first motion by the formation of teeth on its periphery； by
which a considerable saving was effected both in cost and power。
These great improvements formed quite an era in the history of mill
machinery； and exercised the most important influence on the
development of the cotton； flax； silk； and other branches of
manufacture。 Mr。 Fairbairn says the system introduced by his firm was
at first strongly condemned by leading engineers； and it was with
difficulty that he could overcome the force of their opposition； nor
was it until a wheel of thirty tons weight for a pair of engines of
100…horse power each was erected and set to work； that their
prognostications of failure entirely ceased。 From that time the
principles introduced by Mr。 Fairbairn have been adopted wherever
steam is employed as a motive power in mills。
Mr。 Fairbairn and his partner had a hard uphill battle to fight while
these improvements were being introduced； but energy and
perseverance； guided by sound judgment； secured their usual reward；
and the firm became known as one of the most thriving and
enterprising in Manchester。 Long years after； when addressing an
assembly of working men； Mr。 Fairbairn； while urging the necessity of
labour and application as the only sure means of self…improvement；
said； 〃I can tell you from experience； that there is no labour so
sweet； none so consolatory； as that which is founded upon an honest；
straightforward； and honourable ambition。〃 The history of any
prosperous business； however； so closely resembles every other； and
its details are usually of so monotonous a character； that it is
unnecessary for us to pursue this part of the subject； and we will
content ourselves with briefly indicating the several further
improvements introduced by Mr。 Fairbairn in the mechanics of
construction in the course of his long and useful career。
His improvements in water…wheels were of great value； especially as
regarded the new form of bucket which he introduced with the object
of facilitating the escape of the air as the water entered the bucket
above； and its readmission as the water emptied itself out below。
This arrangement enabled the water to act upon the wheel with the
maximum of effect in all states of the river； and it so generally
recommended itself； that it very soon became adopted in most
water…mills both at home and abroad。*
＇footnote。。。
The subject will be found fully treated in Mr。 Fairbairn's own work；
A Treatise on Mills and Mill…Work； embodying the results of his large
experience。
。。。＇
His labours were not； however； confined to his own particular calling
as a mill engineer； but were shortly directed to other equally
important branches of the constructive art。 Thus he was among the
first to direct his attention to iron ship building as a special
branch of business。 In 1829； Mr。 Houston； of Johnstown； near Paisley；
launched a light boat on the Ardrossan Canal for the purpose of
ascertaining the speed at which it could be towed by horses with two
or three persons on board。 To the surprise of Mr。 Houston and the
other gentlemen present； it was found that the labour the horses had
to perform in towing the boat was mach greater at six or seven； than
at nine miles an hour。 This anomaly was very puzzling to the
experimenters； and at the request of the Council of the Forth and
Clyde Canal； Mr。 Fairbairn； who had already become extensively known
as a scientific mechanic； was requested to visit Scotland and
institute a series of experiments with light boats to determine the
law of traction； and clear up； if possible； the apparent anomalies in
Mr。 Houston's experiments。 This he did accordingly； and the results
of his experiments were afterwards published； The trials extended
over a series of years； and were conducted at a cost of several
thousand pounds。 The first experiments were made with vessels of
wood； but they eventually led to the construction of iron vessels
upon a large scale and on an entirely new principle of construction；
with angle iron ribs and wrought…iron sheathing plates。 The results
proved most valuable； and had the effect of specially directing the
attention of naval engineers to the employment of iron in ship
building。
Mr。 Fairbairn himself fully recognised the value of the experiments；
and proceeded to construct an iron vessel at his works at Manchester；
in 1831； which went to sea the same year。 Its success was such as to
induce him to begin iron shipbuilding on a large scale； at the same
time as the Messrs。 Laird did at Birkenhead； and in 1835； Mr。
Fairbairn established extensive works at Millwall； on the
Thames；afterwards occupied by Mr。 Scott Russell； in whose yard the
〃Great Eastern〃 steamship was erected； where in the course of some
fourteen years he built upwards of a hundred and