an autobiography-第58章
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was admired by all observers。 People came from a distance to see it。 Mechanics and ironfounders wondered at the new power which had been born。 The precision and beauty of its action seemed marvellous。 The attendant could； by means of the steam slide…valve lever in his hand； transmit his will to the action of the hammer； and thus think in blows。 The machine combined great power with gentleness。 The hammer could be made to give so gentle a blow as to crack the end of an egg placed in a wine glass on the anvil； whilst the next blow would shake the parish or be instantly arrested in its descent midway。* ＇footnote。。。 This is no mere figure of speech。 I have heard the tea…cups rattle in the cupboard in my house a quarter of a mile from the place where the hammer was at work。 I was afterwards informed that the blows of my great steam hammer at Woolwich Arsenal were sensibly felt at Greenwich Observatory； about two miles distant。 。。。＇
Hand…gear was the original system introduced in working the hammer。 A method of self…acting was afterwards added。 In 1843； I admitted steam above the piston； to aid gravitation。 This was an important improvement。 The self…acting arrangement was eventually done away with； and hand…gear again became all but universal。 Sir John Anderson； in his admirable Report on the Vienna Exhibition of 1873； says： The most remarkable features of the Nasmyth hammers were the almost entire abandonment of the old self…acting motion of the early hammers and the substitution of new devices； and in the use of hand…gear only in all attempts to show off the working。 There is no real saving； as a general rule； by the self…acting arrangement； because one attendant is required in either case； and on the other hand there is frequently a positive loss in the effect of the blow。 By hand…working； with steam on top of piston； the full force can be more readily maintained until the blow is fully delivered； it is thus more of a dead blow than was formerly the case with the other system。〃
There was no want of orders when the valuable qualities of the steam hammer came to be seen and experienced。 The first Order came from Rushton and Eckersley of Bolton； who； by the way； had seen the first copy of my original design a few years before。 The steam hammer I made for them was more powerful than my own。 The hammer block was of five tons weight； and had a clear fall of five feet。 It gave every satisfaction； and the fame of its performances went abroad amongst the ironworkers。 The Lowmoor Ironworks Company followed suit with an order for one of the same size and power； and another came from Hawkes and Co。； of Newcastle…upon…Tyne。
One of the most important uses of the steam hammer was in forging anchors。 Under the old system； anchors upon the soundness of which the safety of ships so often dependswere forged upon the 〃bit by bit〃 system。 The various pieces of an anchor were welded together； but at the parts where the different pieces of iron were welded together； flaws often occurred； the parts would break offblades from the stock； or flukes from the bladesand leave the vessel； which relied upon the security of its anchor； at the risk of the winds and the waves。 By means of the steam hammer these risks were averted。 The slag was driven out during the hammering process。 The anchor was sound throughout because it was welded as a whole。
Those who are technically acquainted with smith work as it used to be practised； by what I term the 〃bit by bit〃 systemthat is； of building up from many separate parts of iron； afterwards welded together into the required formcan appreciate the vast practical value of the Die method brought into general use by the controllable but immense power of the steam hammer。 At a very early period of my employment of the steam hammer； I introduced the system of stamping masses of welding hot iron as if it had been clay； and forcing it into suitable moulds or dies placed upon the anvil。 This practice had been in use on a small scale in the Birmingham gun trade； The ironwork of firearms was thus stamped into exact form。 But； until we possessed the wide range and perfectly controllable powers of the steam hammer； the stamping system was confined to comparatively small portions of forge work。 The new power enabled the die and stamp system to be applied to the largest class of forge work； and another era in the working of ponderous masses of smith and forge work commenced； and has rapidly extended until the present time。 Without entering into further details； the steam hammer has advanced the mechanical arts； especially with relation to machinery of the larger class； to an extent that is of incalculable importance。
Soon after my steam hammer had exhibited its merits as a powerful and docile agent in percussive force； and shown its applicability to some of the most important branches of iron manufacture； I had the opportunity of securing a patent for it in the United States。 This was through the kind agency of my excellent friend and solicitor； the late George Humphries of Manchester。 Mr。 Humphries was a native of Philadelphia； and the intimate friend of Samuel Vaughan Merrick； founder of the eminent engineering firm of that city。 Through his instrumentality I forwarded to Mr。 Merrick all the requisite documents to enable a patent to be secured at the United States Patent Office at Washington。 I transferred the patent to Mr。 Merrick in order that it might be worked to our mutual advantage。 My invention was thus introduced into America under the most favourable auspices。 The steam hammer soon found its way into the principal ironworks of the country。 The admirable straightforward manner in which our American agent conducted the business from first to last will ever command my grateful remembrance。
CHAPTER 14。 Travels in France and Italy。
I have already referred to my visit to Creuzot； in France。 I must explain how it was that I was induced to travel abroad。 The French Government had ordered from our firm some powerful machine tools； which were manufactured； delivered； and found to give every satisfaction。 Shortly after； I received a letter from M。 Bouchier； the Minister of Marine； inviting me to make a personal visit to the French naval arsenals for the purpose of conferring with the directing officials as to the mechanical equipments of their respective workshops。
I accordingly proceeded to Paris； and was received most cordially by the Minister of Marine。 After conferring with him； I was furnished with letters of introduction to the directing officers at Cherbourg； Brest； Rochefort； Indret； and Toulon。 While in Paris I visited some of the principal manufacturing establishments； the proprietors of which had done business with our firm。 I also visited Arago at the Observatory； and saw his fine array of astronomical instruments。 The magnificent collections of antiquities at the Louvre and Hotel Cluny occupied two days out of the four I spent in Paris； after which I proceeded on my mission。 Rouen lay in my way； and I could not fail to stay there and indulge my love for Gothic architecture。 I visited the magnificent Cathedral and the Church of St。 Ouen； so exquisite in its beauty； together with the refined Gothic architectural remains scattered about in that interesting and picturesque city。 I was delighted beyond measure with all that I saw。 With an eye to business； however； I paid a visit to the works which had been established by the late Joseph Locke in the neighbourhood of Rouen for the supply of locomotives to the Havre； Rouen； and Paris Railway。 The works were then under the direction of Mr。 Buddicom。 I went onward through Caen to Bayeux。 There I rested for a few hours for the purpose of visiting the superb Norman Cathedral； and also to inspect the celebrated Bayeux tapestry。 I saw the needlework of Queen Matilda and her handmaidens； which so graphically commemorates the history of the Norman Conquest。 In the evening I reached Cherbourg。 I was cordially received by the directing officer of the dockyard； which is of very large extent and surrounded by fortifications。 My business was with the smithy or atelier des forges； and the workshops or ateliers des machiness。 There I
