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！
self…tightening collar is to the hydraulic press； so is the
steamblast to the locomotive。 It is the one thing needful that has
made it effective in practice。 If Maudslay was the inventor of the
collar； that one contrivance ought to immortalize him。 He used to
tell me of it with great gusto； and I have no reason to doubt the
correctness of his statement。〃 Whoever really struck out the idea of
the collar； displayed the instinct of the true inventor； who
invariably seeks to accomplish his object by the adoption of the
simplest possible means。
During the time that Maudslay held the important office of manager of
Bramah's works； his highest wages were not more than thirty shillings
a…week。 He himself thought that he was worth more to his masteras
indeed he was；and he felt somewhat mortified that he should have to
make an application for an advance； but the increasing expenses of
his family compelled him in a measure to do so。 His application was
refused in such a manner as greatly to hurt his sensitive feelings；
and the result was that he threw up his situation； and determined to
begin working on his own account。
His first start in business was in the year 1797； in a small workshop
and smithy situated in Wells Street； Oxford Street。 It was in an
awful state of dirt and dilapidation when he became its tenant。 He
entered the place on a Friday； but by the Saturday evening； with the
help of his excellent wife； he had the shop thoroughly cleaned；
whitewashed； and put in readiness for beginning work on the next
Monday morning。 He had then the pleasure of hearing the roar of his
own forge…fire； and the cheering ring of the hammer on his own anvil；
and great was the pride he felt in standing for the first time within
his own smithy and executing orders for customers on his own account。
His first customer was an artist； who gave him an order to execute
the iron work of a large easel； embodying some new arrangements； and
the work was punctually done to his employer's satisfaction。 Other
orders followed； and he soon became fully employed。 His fame as a
first…rate workman was almost as great as that of his former master；
and many who had been accustomed to do business with him at Pimlico
followed him to Wells Street。 Long years after； the thought of these
early days of self…dependence and hard work used to set him in a
glow； and he would dilate to his intimate friends up on his early
struggles and his first successes； which were much more highly prized
by him than those of his maturer years。
With a true love of his craft； Maudslay continued to apply himself；
as he had done whilst working as Bramah's foreman； to the best
methods of ensuring accuracy and finish of work； so as in a measure
to be independent of the carelessness or want of dexterity of the
workman。 With this object he aimed at the contrivance of improved
machine…tools； which should be as much self…acting and
self…regulating as possible； and it was while pursuing this study
that he wrought out the important mechanical invention with which his
name is usually identifiedthat of the Slide Rest。 It continued to
be his special delight； when engaged in the execution of any piece of
work in which he took a personal interest； to introduce a system of
identity of parts； and to adapt for the purpose some one or other of
the mechanical contrivances with which his fertile brain was always
teeming。 Thus it was from his desire to leave nothing to the chance
of mere individual dexterity of hand that he introduced the slide
rest in the lathe； and rendered it one of the most important of
machine…tools。 The first device of this kind was contrived by him for
Bramah； in whose shops it continued in practical use long after he
had begun business for himself。 〃I have seen the slide rest；〃 says
Mr。 James Nasmyth； 〃the first that Henry Maudslay made； in use at
Messrs。 Bramah's workshops； and in it were all those arrangements
which are to be found in the most modern slide rest of our own day；*
＇footnote。。。
In this lathe the slide rest and frame were moveable along the
traversing…bar； according to the length of the work； and could be
placed in any position and secured by a handle and screw underneath。
The Rest； however； afterwards underwent many important modifications；
but the principle of the whole machine was there。
。。。＇
all of which are the legitimate offspring of Maudslay's original
rest。 If this tool be yet extant； it ought to be preserved with the
greatest care； for it was the beginning of those mechanical triumphs
which give to the days in which we live so much of their
distinguishing character。〃
A very few words of explanation will serve to illustrate the
importance of Maudslay's invention。 Every person is familiar with the
uses of the common turning…lathe。 It is a favourite machine with
amateur mechanics； and its employment is indispensable for the
execution of all kinds of rounded work in wood and metal。 Perhaps
there is no contrivance by which the skill of the handicraftsman has
been more effectually aided than by this machine。 Its origin is lost
in the shades of antiquity。 Its most ancient form was probably the
potter's wheel； from which it advanced； by successive improvements；
to its present highly improved form。 It was found that； by whatever
means a substance capable of being cut could be made to revolve with
a circular motion round a fixed right line as a centre； a cutting
tool applied to its surface would remove the inequalities so that any
part of such surface should be equidistant from that centre。 Such is
the fundamental idea of the ordinary turning…lathe。 The ingenuity and
experience of mechanics working such an instrument enabled them to
add many improvements to it； until the skilful artisan at length
produced not merely circular turning of the most beautiful and
accurate description； but exquisite figure…work； and complicated
geometrical designs； depending upon the cycloidal and eccentric
movements which were from time to time added to the machine。
The artisans of the Middle Ages were very skilful in the use of the
lathe； and turned out much beautiful screen and stall work； still to
be seen in our cathedrals； as well as twisted and swash…work for the
balusters of staircases and other ornamental purposes。 English
mechanics seem early to have distinguished themselves as improvers of
the lathe； and in Moxon's 'Treatise on Turning；' published in 1680；
we find Mr。 Thomas Oldfield； at the sign of the Flower…de…Luce； near
the Savoy in the Strand； named as an excellent maker of oval…engines
and swash…engines； showing that such machines were then in some
demand。 The French writer Plumier*
＇footnote。。。
PLUMIER； L'Art de Tourner； Paris； 1754； p。 155。 。。。＇
also mentions an ingenious modification of the lathe by means of
which any kind of reticulated form could be given to the work； and；
from it's being employed to ornament the han