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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 good workman feels； and at all events entertained the
desire of rising in his trade。 When his time was out； he accordingly
resolved to seek work in London； whither he made the journey on foot。
He soon found work at a cabinet…maker's； and remained with him for
some time； after which he set up business in a very small way on his
own account。 An accident which happened to him in the course of his
daily work； again proved his helper； by affording him a degree of
leisure which he at once proceeded to turn to some useful account。
Part of his business consisted in putting up water…closets； after a
method invented or improved by a Mr。 Allen； but the article was still
very imperfect； and Bramah had long resolved that if he could only
secure some leisure for the purpose； he would contrive something that
should supersede it altogether。 A severe fall which occurred to him
in the course of his business； and laid him up； though very much
against his will； now afforded him the leisure which he desired； and
he proceeded to make his proposed invention。 He took out a patent for
it in 1778； describing himself in the specification as 〃of Cross
Court； Carnaby Market ＇Golden Square＇； Middlesex； Cabinet Maker。〃 He
afterwards removed to a shop in Denmark Street； St。 Giles's； and
while there he made a further improvement in his invention by the
addition of a water cock； which he patented in 1783。 The merits of
the machine were generally recognised； and before long it came into
extensive use； continuing to be employed； with but few alterations；
until the present day。 His circumstances improving with the increased
use of his invention； Bramah proceeded to undertake the manufacture
of the pumps； pipes； &c。； required for its construction； and；
remembering his friend the Yorkshire blacksmith； who had made his
first tools for him out of the old files and razor…blades； he sent
for him to London to take charge of his blacksmith's department； in
which he proved a most useful assistant。 As usual； the patent was
attacked by pirates so soon as it became productive； and Bramah was
under the necessity； on more than one occasion； of defending his
property in the invention； in which he was completely successful。
We next find Bramah turning his attention to the invention of a lock
that should surpass all others then known。 The locks then in use were
of a very imperfect character； easily picked by dexterous thieves；
against whom they afforded little protection。 Yet locks are a very
ancient invention； though； as in many other cases； the art of making
them seems in a great measure to have become lost； and accordingly
had to be found out anew。 Thus the tumbler lockwhich consists in
the use of moveable impediments acted on by the proper key only； as
contradistinguished from the ordinary ward locks； where the
impediments are fixed appears to have been well known to the
ancient Egyptians； the representation of such a lock being found
sculptured among the bas…reliefs which decorate the great temple at
Karnak。 This kind of lock was revived； or at least greatly improved；
by a Mr。 Barron in 1774； and it was shortly after this time that
Bramah directed his attention to the subject。 After much study and
many experiments； he contrived a lock more simple； more serviceable；
as well as more secure； than Barron's； as is proved by the fact that
it has stood the test of nearly eighty years' experience；*
＇footnote。。。
The lock invented by Bramah was patented in 1784。 Mr。 Bramah himself
fully set forth the specific merits of the invention in his
Dissertation on the Construction of Locks。 In a second patent； taken
out by him in 1798； he amended his first with the object of
preventing the counterfeiting of keys； and suspending the office of
the lock until the key was again in the possession of the owner。 This
he effected by enabling the owner so to alter the sliders as to
render the lock inaccessible to such key if applied b