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can make that as good as new by six o'clock to…night； it will satisfy
your foreman that I am entitled to rank as a tradesman and take my
place among your men； even though I have not served a seven years'
apprenticeship。〃 There was so much self…reliant ability in the
proposal； which was moreover so reasonable； that it was at once
acceded to。 Off went Maudslay's coat； up went his shirt sleeves； and
to work he set with a will upon the old bench。 The vice…jaws were
re…steeled 〃in no time；〃 filed up； re…cut； all the parts cleaned and
made trim； and set into form again。 By six o'clock； the old vice was
screwed up to its place； its jaws were hardened and 〃let down〃 to
proper temper； and the old bench was made to look so smart and neat
that it threw all the neighbouring benches into the shade！ Bramah and
his foreman came round to see it； while the men of the shop looked
admiringly on。 It was examined and pronounced 〃a first…rate job。〃
This diploma piece of work secured Maudslay's footing； and next
Monday morning he came on as one of the regular hands。
He soon took rank in the shop as a first…class workman。 Loving his
art； he aimed at excellence in it； and succeeded。 For it must be
understood that the handicraftsman whose heart is in his calling；
feels as much honest pride in turning out a piece of thoroughly good
workmanship； as the sculptor or the painter does in executing a
statue or a picture。 In course of time； the most difficult and
delicate jobs came to be entrusted to Maudslay； and nothing gave him
greater pleasure than to be set to work upon an entirely new piece of
machinery。 And thus he rose； naturally and steadily； from hand to
head work。 For his manual dexterity was the least of his gifts。 He
possessed an intuitive power of mechanical analysis and synthesis。 He
had a quick eye to perceive the arrangements requisite to effect
given purposes； and whenever a difficulty arose； his inventive mind
set to work to overcome it。
His fellow…workmen were not slow to recognise his many admirable
qualities； of hand； mind； and heart； and he became not only the
favourite； but the hero of the shop。 Perhaps he owed something to his
fine personal appearance。 Hence on gala…days； when the men turned out
in procession； 〃Harry〃 was usually selected to march at their head
and carry the flag。 His conduct as a son； also； was as admirable as
his qualities as a workman。 His father dying shortly after Maudslay
entered Bramah's concern； he was accustomed to walk down to Woolwich
every Saturday night； and hand over to his mother； for whom he had
the tenderest regard； a considerable share of his week's wages； and
this he continued to do as long as she lived。
Notwithstanding his youth； he was raised from one post to another；
until he was appointed； by unanimous consent； the head foreman of the
works； and was recognised by all who had occasion to do business
there as 〃Bramah's right…hand man。〃 He not only won the heart of his
master； butwhat proved of far greater importance to himhe also
won the heart of his master's pretty housemaid； Sarah Tindel by name；
whom he married； and she went hand…in…hand with him through life； an
admirable 〃help meet；〃 in every way worthy of the noble character of
the great mechanic。 Maudslay was found especially useful by his
master in devising the tools for making his patent locks； and many
were the beautiful contrivances which he invented for the purpose of
ensuring their more accurate and speedy manufacture； with a minimum
degree of labour； and without the need of any large amount of manual
dexterity on the part of the workman。 The lock was so delicate a
machine； that the identity of the several parts of which it was
composed was found to be an absolute necessity。 Mere handicraft；
however skilled； could not secure the requisite precision of
workmanship； nor could the parts be turned out in sufficient quantity
to meet any large demand。 It was therefore requisite to devise
machine…tools which should not blunder； nor turn out imperfect
work； machines； in short； which should be in a great measure
independent of the want of dexterity of individual workmen； but which
should unerringly labour in their prescribed track； and do the work
set them； even in the minutest details； after the methods designed by
their inventor。 In this department Maudslay was eminently successful；
and to his laborious ingenuity； as first displayed in Bramah's
workshops； and afterwards in his own establishment； we unquestionably
owe much of the power and accuracy of our present self…acting
machines。
Bramah himself was not backward in admitting that to Henry Maudslay's
practical skill in contriving the machines for manufacturing his
locks on a large scale； the success of his invention was in a great
degree attributable。 In further proof of his manual dexterity； it may
be mentioned that he constructed with his own hands the identical
padlock which so severely tested the powers of Mr。 Hobbs in 1851。 And
when it is considered that the lock had been made for more than half
a century； and did not embody any of the modern improvements； it will
perhaps be regarded not only as creditable to the principles on which
it was constructed； but to the workmanship of its maker； that it
should so long have withstood the various mechanical dexterity to
which it was exposed。
Besides the invention of improved machine…tools for the manufacture
of locks； Maudslay was of further service to Bramah in applying the
expedient to his famous Hydraulic Press； without which it would
probably have remained an impracticable though a highly ingenious
machine。 As in other instances of great inventions； the practical
success of the whole is often found to depend upon the action of some
apparently trifling detail。 This was especially the case with the
hydraulic press； to which Maudslay added the essential feature of the
self…tightening collar； above described in the memoir of Bramah。 Mr。
James Nasmyth is our authority for ascribing this invention to
Maudslay； who was certainly quite competent to have made it； and it
is a matter of fact that Bramah's specification of the press says
nothing of the hollow collar；*
＇footnote。。。
The words Bramah uses in describing this part of his patent of 1795
are these〃The piston must be made perfectly watertight by leather
or other materials； as used in pump…making。〃 He elsewhere speaks of
the piston…rod 〃working through the stuffing…box。〃 But in practice；
as we have above shown； these methods were found to be altogether
inefficient。
。。。＇
on which its efficient action mainly depends。 Mr。 Nasmyth
says〃Maudslay himself told me； or led me to believe； that it was he
who invented the self…tightening collar for the hydraulic press；
without which it would never have been a serviceable machine。 As the
self…tightening collar is to the hydraulic press； so is the
steamblast to the locomotive。 It is the o