The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-21

Modern Machinists-JOseph whItwOrth
Perhaps the most scieutiGc of the race of ma
ehinists formed in the establishment of Mauds-
lay, Field & Co., is Joseph Whitworth, whose
fame as tool-maker is known throughout the
world. He has considerably improved upon the
planing-machine, in his "Jim Grow" machine, so
called because the cutter reverses itself and
works both ways, and in fact adapts itself to any
position to do its work. His name is however
more identified with rhed ordnance and small,
arms, in the production of which he has no rival
The passion for accuracy of work which was
instilled into him by his old master has led him
TO invent various machines for the attainment of
that end; among others, he has devised contri-
vance by which variation of a millionth Of an
inch can be detected
In fact eviathan engines of all kinds are turned
out by him, which work with all the precision of
chrOnometer; and the value Of this accuracy of
practice Is not confined to his workshop as it ex-
tends its influence throughout the profession and
establishes a standard of excellence to which
other machine manufacturers, il they would
flourish, must also attain. What contrast does
the work of the machlRists OF the present day
present TO those of a hundred years agol At
that time, as Mr.. Smiles observes an engine of
any size, when once erected, required the con-
slant attention of the engineer, who almost lived
beside II, in order to keep it in working order,
such was the friction Of its parts and the c!ums-
ness OF Its construction. At the present time
however, almost absolute perfection OF working
is obtained.
When the five thousand different pieces Of tho
marine engines designed for the Warrior we're
brought together frOmsthe different shops Of the
hessrs. Penn, although the wOrkmen who built
them up had never seen them before, yet such
was the mathematical accuracy of their 6t that
Immediately steam was got up they began work.
ing with the utmost smOOthness. As a newborn
child, Immediately it enters the world aud ex-
pands its lungs, begins to stretch its limbs so this
gigantic engine, rs soon as steam began to expand
Under. a itg hu
with the smOothness and ease of a thing of life
1t would be impossible TO estimate the gain
to the country brought about by the selfact-
ing tools now coming constantly into use If
we had to depend upon the old hammer and file,
and chsel and guage, it is questionable whether
our mechanical art could keep pace with the
requirements OF our rapidly increasing pOpu-
lation; and commodities of all kinds that spring
from the skilled hand would soon reach fabu-
lOus price. Now 1t is the brain that works the
mechanican In his study increases a thousand
fold the fingers of the seamsress with his sewing
machine, builds fleets Of boats (by the American
PATENT in as many days as the old boit-builder
would have formerly taken years, and manufaC-
lures ritles-stock, lock, and blrrel-withOut
human fingers coming in contact with them
after The wood and iron are carried into the
workshop. Perhaps the Government manu-
factory Of rifles at Enfield is one of the most per-
feet marvels of labor-saving machinery in exist
ence and the hundreds Of machines which 20 to
build up this most perfect military tool of the
day have an automatic action 50 perfect, and
bite, cut file drill, and plane with such marvel
iOus intelligence, quickness, and care, that one
cannot for moment help thinking that the hu-
man Eaud is, after all, a very slow Invention and
not az all up TO the work demanded by the pre-
sent age. Yet these unerrng dgts, which now
10 our daily work. were not in existence sixty
years ago, and our ten fingers were the slaves
thai accomplished every stroke of work. As re-
CARDS our mechanical appliances, at least, the
present century has lifted us from condition but
Little superior TO that OF barbarians to pitch of
excellence which seems almost divine. But for
rnu mRryelg accomplished in this direction we
must refer the reader TO Mr.. Smiles very interest
.ng Industrial Biography" to which we are
indebted for many facts in this article ORce.a-
Wees.