The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-07-09
WHOLE NO. 1887.

"NHO' az ohiJ WIN IdPluNy, out OF Su-
perior finish, uniformity, and value, to
those made by manual labor, and he SO.
cured a patent for the invention. This
remarkable improvement attracting tho
attention of the government, he was n
gagged to put up one Of his machines at
the United States Arsenal at Springfield.
Massachusetts, and afterwards another at
Harper's Ferry, Maryland.
When his apparatus was first started
at Springfield, the workmen came around
to witness the experiment. On it's sue.
~cessful operation, one of the workmen re-
marked to another, this man has upset
our art" One Of the gun-stock makers
said That he could not upset him,
for the stranger could not turn a gun.
stock" Blanchard said that he wouldtr try
Nothing daunted he set his wits at
work to invent the machine for turning
so irregular a form as a gun-stock! AZ
ter trying various experiments, and ap.
Proximating to his object, he finally sue
ceeded in making a lathe TO turn out gum
stocks with accuracy and facility, by
steam power! He secured a patent for
the invention, and it is now in successful
operation at Springfield. and Harper's
Ferry, and it has literally upset the art
OF making gun-stocks by the slow process
OF manual labor.
This curious machine was at once ap-
piled to making shoe lasts. hat blocks.
tackle blocks, and all similar utensils;
and while it put an end to the tedious
process Of making such articles by hand
labor, i~tprOduced far more perfect spe-
cimens.
In 1928, Mr.. Blanchard applied his
mind to locomotive power, and construe-
ted a steam carriage for common roads.
He exhibited his model in Washing.
ton, in shape of a horse and carriage,
which elected high CONNER nd atoms from
Mr.. Calhoun the Vice President of tie
United States. aud other distinguished
men. 1t was applicable to railroads.
would go forward and backward, and
turn corners. He applied it to the turn
outs, or switches" now in common use.
He secured a patent as usual, and as ear.
ly as 1886 submitted his plans for a rail-
road to the Legislature Of Massachusetts,
and obtained the favorable report of a
committee ofthe house. His ideas, how
ever, being then generally deemed vision
airy. his schemes proved abortive.
He next submitted his plans to the Le-
gislature of New York, and applied for
a charter for a Railroad from Albany to
Schenectady. But Gov. Clinton was SO
much sngrossed with his big Ditch" as
to prevent any attention to such v%isiona-
ry schemes as a railroad.
About the same time he invented an
improvement in steamboat machinery, to
enable boats of small draft to ascend the
rapids of rivers, and his plans is now in
general Use, for ascending rivers Of mar.
row, shallow, and rapid channels. His
boat was the first to ascend the Connect
lieut., from Hartford to Bellows Falls, to
: the surprise Of those on that river, who
had never seen a steamboat.
Such are among the valuable inven.
tons of Thomas Blanchards, a farmers
!, son. whose only means of education was
the common country schools, in a seclu.
, ded part of the country. at the close Of
. the last century. Like all other invent
ors and innovators. he had 10 contend a.
!, gainst ignorance and prejudice. At the
very moment when he was on the eve OF
=, producing most curious and usefulinven.
. tions; he was ridiculed by upstairs as
crack Drained enthusiast. More forum.
ate, however than most inventors. his per
severance has been crowned with sue.
: cess, and he still lives to enjoy the rich
. fruits of his genius and labors.