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cwt。； was made for the Patricroft works； with the consent of the
partners； and in the course of a few weeks it was in full work。 The
precision and beauty of its actionthe perfect ease with which it
was managed； and the untiring force of its percussive blowswere
the admiration of all who saw it； and from that moment the
steam…hammer became a recognised power in modern mechanics。 The
variety or gradation of its blows was such； that it was found
practicable to manipulate a hammer of ten tons as easily as if it had
only been of ten ounces weight。 It was under such complete control
that while descending with its greatest momentum； it could be
arrested at any point with even greater ease than any instrument used
by hand。 While capable of forging an Armstrong hundred…pounder； or
the sheet…anchor for a ship of the line； it could hammer a nail； or
crack a nut without bruising the kernel。 When it came into general
use； the facilities which it afforded for executing all kinds of
forging had the effect of greatly increasing the quantity of work
done； at the same time that expense was saved。 The cost of making
anchors was reduced by at least 50 per cent。； while the quality of
the forging was improved。 Before its invention the manufacture of a
shaft of l5 or 20cwt。 required the concentrated exertions of a large
establishment； and its successful execution was regarded as a great
triumph of skill。； whereas forgings of 20 and 30 tons weight are now
things of almost every…day occurrence。 Its advantages were so
obvious； that its adoption soon became general； and in the course of
a few years Nasmyth steam…hammers were to be found in every
well…appointed workshop both at home and abroad。 Many modifications
have been made in the tool； by Condie； Morrison； Naylor； Rigby； and
others； but Nasmyth's was the father of them all； and still holds its
ground。*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Nasmyth has lately introduced； with the assistance of Mr。 Wilson
of the Low Moor Iron Works； a new； exceedingly ingenious； and very
simple contrivance for working the hammer。 By this application any
length of stroke； any amount of blow； and any amount of variation can
be given by the operation of a single lever； and by this improvement
the machine has attained a rapidity of action and change of motion
suitable to the powers of the engine； and the form or consistency of
the articles under the hammer。Mr。 FAIRBAIRN'S Report on the Paris
Universal Exhibition of 1855； p。 100。
。。。＇
Among the important uses to which this hammer has of late years been
applied； is the manufacture of iron plates for covering our ships of
war； and the fabrication of the immense wrought…iron ordnance of
Armstrong； Whitworth； and Blakely。 But for the steam…hammer； indeed；
it is doubtful whether such weapons could have been made。 It is also
used for the re…manufacture of iron in various other forms； to say
nothing of the greatly extended use which it has been the direct
means of effecting in wrought…iron and steel forgings in every
description of machinery； from the largest marine steam…engines to
the most nice and delicate parts of textile mechanism。 〃It is not too
much to say；〃 observes a writer in the Engineer； 〃that； without
Nasmyth's steam…hammer； we must have stopped short in many of those
gigantic engineering works which； but for the decay of all wonder in
us； would be the perpetual wonder of this age； and which have enabled
our modern engineers to take rank above the gods of all mythologies。
There is one use to which the steam…hammer is now becoming
extensively applied by some of our manufacturers that deserves
especial mention； rather for the prospect which it opens to us than
for what has already been actually accomplished。 We allude to the
manufacture of large articles in DIES。 At one manufactory in the
country； railway wheels； for example； are being manufactured with
enormous economy by this means。 The various parts of the wheels are
produced in quantity either by rolling or by dies under the hammer；
these parts are brought together in their relative positions in a
mould； heated to a welding heat； and then by a blow of the steam
hammer； furnished with dies； are stamped into a complete and all but
finished wheel。 It is evident that wherever wrought…iron articles of
a manageable size have to be produced in considerable quantities； the
same process may be adopted； and the saving effected by the
substitution of this for the ordinary forging process will doubtless
ere long prove incalculable。 For this； as for the many other
advantageous uses of the steam…hammer； we are primarily and mainly
indebted to Mr。 Nasmyth。 It is but right； therefore； that we should
hold his name in honour。 In fact； when we think of the universal
service which this machine is rendering us； we feel that some special
expression of our indebtedness to him would be a reasonable and
grateful service。 The benefit which he has conferred upon us is so
great as to justly entitle him to stand side by side with the few men
who have gained name and fame as great inventive engineers； and to
whom we have testified our gratitudeusually； unhappily； when it
was too late for them to enjoy it。〃
Mr。 Nasmyth subsequently applied the principle of the steam…hammer in
the pile driver； which he invented in 1845。 Until its production； all
piles had been driven by means of a small mass of iron falling upon
the head of the pile with great velocity from a considerable height；
the raising of the iron mass by means of the 〃monkey〃 being an
operation that occupied much time and labour； with which the results
were very incommensurate。 Pile…driving was； in Mr。 Nasmyth's words；
conducted on the artillery or cannon…ball principle； the action being
excessive and the mass deficient； and adapted rather for destructive
than impulsive action。 In his new and beautiful machine； he applied
the elastic force of steam in raising the ram or driving block； on
which； the block being disengaged； its whole weight of three tons
descended on the head of the pile； and the process being repeated
eighty times in the minute； the pile was sent home with a rapidity
that was quite marvellous compared with the old…fashioned system。 In
forming coffer…dams for the piers and abutments of bridges； quays；
and harbours； and in piling the foundations of all kinds of masonry；
the steam pile driver was found of invaluable use by the engineer。 At
the first experiment made with the machine； Mr。 Nasmyth drove a
14…inch pile fifteen feet into hard ground at the rate of 65 blows a
minute。 The driver was first used in forming the great steam dock at
Devonport； where the results were very striking； and it was shortly
after employed by Robert Stephenson in piling the foundations of the
great High Level Bridge at Newcastle； and the Border Bridge at
Berwick； as well as in several other of his great works。 The saving
of time effected by this machine was very remark