an autobiography-第42章
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roud of Henry Maudslay。
After the death of my master I passed over to the service of his worthy partner； Joshua Field。 I had an equal pleasure in working under him。 His kindness in some degree mitigated the sad loss I had sustained by the death of my lamented friend and employer。 The first work I had to perform for Mr。 Field was to assist him in making the working drawings of a 200 horse…power condensing steam…engine； ordered by the Lambeth Waterworks Company。 The practical acquaintance which I had by this time acquired of the mechanism of steam…engines enabled me to serve Mr。 Field in a satisfactory manner。 I drew out in full practical detail the rough but excellent hand sketches with which he supplied me。 They were handed out for execution in the various parts of the factory； and I communicated with the foremen as to the details and workmanship。
While I was occupied beside Mr。 Field in making these working drawings； he gave me many most valuable hints as to the designing of machinery in general。 In after years I had many opportunities of making good use of them。 One point he often impressed upon me。 It was； he said； most important to bear in mind the get…at…ability of partsthat is； when any part of a machine was out of repair； it was requisite to get at it easily without taking the machine to pieces。 This may appear a very simple remark； but the neglect of such an arrangement occasions a vast amount of trouble； delay； and expense。 None but those who have had to do with the repair of worn…out or damaged parts of machinery can adequately value the importance of this subject。
I found Mr。 Field to be a most systematic man in all business affairs。 I may specially name one of his arrangements which I was quick to take up and appreciate。 I carried it out with great advantage in my after life。 It was； to record subjects of conversation by means of 〃graphic〃 memoranda。 Almost daily； persons of note came to consult with him about machinery。 On these occasions the consultations took place either with reference to proposed new work； or as to the progress of orders then in hand。 Occasionally some novel scheme of applying power was under discussion； or some new method of employing mechanism： On ordinary occasions rough and rapid sketches are made on any stray pieces of waste paper that were about； and after the conversation is over the papers are swept away into the waste basket and destroyed。 And yet some of these rapid drawings involve matters of great interest and importance for after consultations。
To avoid such losses； Mr。 Field had always placed upon his table a 〃talking book〃 or 〃graphic diary。〃 When his visitors called and entered into conversation with him about mechanical matters； he made rapid sketches on the successive pages of the book； and entered the brief particulars and date of the conversation； together with the name and address of the visitor。 So that a conversation； once begun； might again be referred to； and； when the visitor called； the graphic memoranda might be recalled without loss of time； and the consultation again proceeded。 The pages of Mr。 Field's 〃talking books〃 were in many ways most interesting。 They contained data that； in future years； supplied valuable evidence in respect to first suggestions of mechanical contrivances； and which sometimes were developed into very important results。 I may add that Mr。 Field kept these 〃talking books〃 on a shelf in front of his drawing table。 The back of each volume was marked with the year to which the entries referred； and an index was appended to each。 A general index book was also placed at the end of the goodly range of these graphic records of his professional life。
The completion of the working drawings of the Lambeth pumping engines occupied me until August 1831。 I had then arrived at my twenty…third year。 I had no intention of proceeding further as an assistant or a journeyman。 I intended to begin business for my self。 Of course I could only begin in a very small way。 I informed Mr。 Field of my intention； and he was gratified with my decision。 Not only so； but he kindly permitted me to obtain castings of one of the best turning…lathes in the workshops。 I knew th at when I had fitted it up it would become the parent of a vast progeny of descendantsnot only in the direct line； but in planing machines； screw…cutting lathes； and many other minor tools。
At the end of the month； after taking a grateful farewell of Mr。 Field and his partners； I set sail for Leith with my stock of castings； and reached Edinburgh in due time。 In order to proceed with the construction of my machine tools； I rented a small piece of land at Old Broughton。 It was at the rear of my worthy friend George Douglass's small foundry； and was only about five minutes' walk from my father's house。 I erected a temporary workshop 24 feet long by 16 feet wide。
I removed thither my father's foot…lathe； to which I had previously added an excellent slide…rest of my own making。 I also added a 〃slow motion；〃 which enabled me to turn cast…iron and cast…steel portions of my great Maudslay lathe。 I soon had the latter complete and in action。 Its first child was a planing machine capable of executing surfaces in the most perfect styleof 3 feet long by 1 foot 8 inches wide。 Armed with these two most important and generally useful tools； and by some special additions； such as boring machines and drilling machines； I soon had a progeny of legitimate descendants crowded about my little workshop； so that I often did not know which way to turn。
＇Image＇ My temporary workshop at Edinburgh
I had one labourer to drive the wheel which gave motion to my big lathe； but I was very much in want of some one else to help me。 One day a young hearty fellow called upon me。 He had come from the Shotts Iron Company's Works in Edinburgh。 Having heard of what I was about； he offered his services。 When he told me that he had been bred as a millwright； and that he could handle the plane and the saw as well as the chisel and the file； I closed with him at once。 He was to have fifteen shillings a week。 I liked the young man very muchhe was so hearty and cheerful。 His name was Archibald Torry； or 〃 Archie；〃 as he was generally called during the twenty years that he remained in my service I obtained another assistant in the person of a young man whose father wished him to get an insight into practical engineering。 I was offered a premium of #50 for twelve months' experience in my workshop。 I arranged to take the young man； and to initiate him in the general principles and practice of engineering。 The #50 premium was a very useful help to me； especially as I had engaged the millwright。 It enabled me to pay Torry's wages during the time that he remained with me in Edinburgh。 I found it necessary； however； to take in some work in the regular way of business； in order to supply me with the means of completing my proper supply of tools。
The chief of these extraneous and； I may say； disturbing jobs； was that of constructing a rotary steam…engine。 Mr。 Robert Steen had contrived and patented an engine of this sort。 He was a dangerously enthusiastic man； and entertained the most visionary ideas as to steam power。 He was of opinion that his own contrivance was more compact and simple； and possessed of more capability of producing power from the consumption of a given quantity of fuel； than the best steam…engines then in use。 I warned him of his error； but nothing but an actual proof would satisfy him。 He urgently requested me to execute his order。He made me a liberal and tempting offer of weekly payments for my work during the progress of his engine。 He only required that I should give his invention the benefit of my careful workmanship。 He considered that this would be sufficient to substantiate all his enthusiastic expectations。 I was thus seduced to accept his order。
I made the requisite drawings； and proceeded with the work。 At the same time my own machine tools were in progress； though at a retarded pace。 The weekly payments we're regularly made； and I was kept in a sort of financial ease。 After three months the rotary engine was finished to the inventor's complete satis
