The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-19


Another great mechanic, bred in the school of
Bramah, and afterwards in the employ of NIauds.
lay & Field, was Joseph Clements. He laws
claim to have made the first machine for planning
iron. There have been more disputes respecting
the parentage Of this machine than perhaps any
other but Clements machine, which was finished
IN 1879, was certainly the earliest in action, and
in the metropolis 1t did the whole work of the
trade for many years. The value of a machine
which can produce u true plane is inCalcu able.
Indeed, WhitwOrh has written a treatise upon
II, as a standard Of reterenCeiu mechanical pro-
ductious. Before the planning machine came into
use, true panCs were apprOSimated, for they
could not wholly be obtained, by means Of chip
ping and filing. Clements machine, however
az once superseded that method. and for some
years, Mr. Smiles informs u.s. his income mainly
! depended upon the earnings OF this iron pluner,
which never ceased working night or day and
earning for its master as much as EIO for every
twelve hours work. In every machinists shop
is now to be seen this beautiful tool cutting a
long narrow ribbon of metal with its keen tooth
producing the most perfect work, aud tended in
many cases only by lad. Clements in conse-
quouce Of the great fame he had acquired for ac-
curacy Of work, was sought by Professor Bah
bage, 10 construct the famous calculating IN tsAine
This extraordinary work, after progressing for
some years, was however discontinued by Gov
ernment, aud itremains magnificent ragmeuu
Of mechanical skill. The working drawings, we
are told Of the calculating machine atone
irrespective Of the printing machine, which
was equally elaborate covered no less than four
hundred square feet Of surface The apparatus
was intended TO calculate with unerring accuracy
and this it is full y equal TO accomplish, for when
through any cause an error has been made it
actually reverses It's action, and TO use Mr.
Smiles expression, "rubs itself out"
Although this machine was never finished in
England, Messrs. Schentz, OF Stockholm, after
twenty years labor, completed this eXtraOrdi-
nary combination of what may bo also termed
thinking hOu,' and il was first displayed in tbe
d tI,,
was completed by foreigners, it was done from
the English drawings; therefore the merit is
wholly due to Babbage and Clements. Our own
Government have procured a COPY of this
machine, and it is now in actual use no
Somerset House, working out annuity and
other tables Tor the Registrar General, pos
slbly calculating our mortality tubIes-a dead
piece Of machinery counting up our dead men
"a most appropriate occupation. Clements
followed the lead Of Maudslay i'm reforming "A
very important Ccal in mechanism. Before
the time OF these thoughtful wOrkmen there
existed no regularity with respect to those all
important parts Of mechanism, screws and
nuts. Every maker suited his own fancy with
regard 10 their construction, and there was no
such thing as uniformity with respect to the
pitch Of the screw. The cOu.equcnce was
that on taking a machine TO pieces for repair,
the screw hole had 20 be drilled out and reclt.
SO as 70 suit the thread used in the shop.
The great expense and loss Of time caused by
this arrangement led Clements % the conclusion
that the number OF threads should be settled az
cording 70 the lgVgth Of the screw. lie did this,
and constructCdn screw-cugine lathe 20 do the
work OF one accomplished by hand. This plan
the trade unanimously accepted, and now there is
no more trouble about this very important imple-
ment which holds machinery together. Clements
did his work thoroughly, but be would have his
own price for it hike Mr.. PeUu, who could not
aft, ,rd TO turn out imperfect work.
His screws were constructed with mathematical
accuracy, hut they were unfortunately costly. A
story is told Of his having received an order from
America 60 make u large screw sin the best pos
sible manner" The work was accomplished with
great care, and the American was a,tonished 10
find bill for several hundred pounds for the
work done the matter was referred TO arbra-
tion, and Of course the case went in favor Of the
machinist. IL may he interesting TO the public to
know that Clements is the inventor of the too
efeetual steam whistle Of our locomotive once
a-Ueck.