The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-06-20
AtOisttr.
TUESDAY. JUNE 20, 1871.
Art by Machinery.

human lnstincts, taxing upl the rough
block of marble and chiseling it into the
form of any desired model-even the
most delicate tracery of the sculptor's
art. We propose now to make few re.
marks upon the history of the invention,
its principles Of action and the design to
be accomplished.
For the past fifty years many attempts
have been made to devise mechanism to
automatically produce the irregular forms
found in carving, sculpture, bronze work
&C., but which have till now signally failed
The lathe of Thomas Blanchard, dis
tant relative of the inventor of this ma.
chine, that would produce busts and CUR
stocks automatically, is the only progress
i've step in the field of mechanical art
Yet the principle involved in this inven.
tion made it applicable only to the pro.
duction of the round or oval form in the
product desired.
A lathe, or engine, to which any amount
of motive power may be applied, that
may be requisite, that will automatically
produce any of the irregular forms found
in carving, sculpture, bronze work and
engraving-that will produce every line
and feature with mathematical precision
and certainty-that will work equally
well upon wood, stone or metal, that is
simple in construction and easy TO man.
ipulate, has long been wanted to meet a
great and growing demand in the field Of
the fine arts.
1t is confidently believed that every
want is fully realized in this invention
to which reference is made.
The difficulties to be met in the solu-
ton of this mechanical problem that is
solved in this invention are five fold in
character.
First to devise pattern of such a
character so near plane that an anti
friction ball will roll rapidly upon its
surface, and yet have such pattern pro-
duce the irregular form desired.
Second, to have the cutting point so
sensitive to the motions of the tracing
ball upon the pattern as to produce with
mathematical certainty and precision
every line and feature found upon the
surface of the pattern, in the material
wrought, and, yet in the presence of all
this delicacy and sensitiveness in action,
to be able to apply any desired amount
of force or motive power TO the cutting
point.
Third, to be able to transfer the de-
sign of the same pattern to any variety
Of form in the material wrought, whether
an oval, cylindrical or plane surface, or
any other that may be desired.
Fourth, to adapt the mechanism of the
machine to the production of the pattern
from the original work of art
Fifth, to combine the solution OF the
above four mechanical problems in a SIM
pie, durable, practical form, the machine
as whole being perfectly automatic in
its action.
In the practical operation Of this in.
vention the work Of art whatever it may
be, whether bust, or sculptured vase or
an ordinary piece of carving is placed in
the machine, piece Of wood of the re-
quisite size is at the same time placed in
the proper position in the machine from
which the pattern for future use is to be
cut.
The machine on being put in motion
from the work Of art, whatever it may
be, will produce a pattern in the wood
from which duplicate of the work Of
art may be produced. A metal cast Of
the pattern after being produced in the
manner described, on an almost plain
surface, is then taken, filling in this in.
vention the place Of the stereotype plate
in the art of printing.
The metal cast Of the pattern being
put into a proper position in the machine,
and suitable form of wood, stone or
metal being placed in the position occu-
cupied by the work Of art during the pro-
cess of cutting the pattern, as above de-
scribed, the machine with suitable cut
ting point and the requisite amount Of
motive power, will automatically pro-
duce the work of art, whatever it may
be, with rapidity in proportion to the
motive power applied.
The principles involved in this inven-
ton and in their application are entirely
novel in the field of mechanical art.
As a combination of intricate and del
icate action, with the great strain result
ing from the application Of large amount
of motive power, yet with all the delica.
cy and sensitiveness preserved and ap.
piled in the midst Of high velocities and
ponderous effect, with a mathematical
precision that is beyond criticism, this
invention is truly browning and as yet
the grandest triumph in pure dynamic
science.
AS Illustrative Of this point, we would
observe that to the cutting point, where
a delicacy and sensitiveness in action is
required that will produce the most del
icate lines and features found in an clab.
crate piece of statuary that in the ma
chine which We recently saw in operation,
from one to four horse power as motive
agency could be applied.
AS piece of automatic machinery in
simplicity, and general adaptation to the
end desired, competent Judges pronounce
this invention to be unrivalled.
This machine is the invention Of Virgil
W. Blanchard, M. D., of Bridport.
The American patent is dated May |
1869. 1t is owned jointly by the paten-
tee, Virgil w. Blanchard, and F. r.
Fletcher, Esq, Of Bridport.
1t is proposed, if sufficient amount
Of capital can be raised, to form COM
pany in Middlebury to control the in
terests of the American patent. With
the promise there is of large success in
this enterprise, We doubt not the capital
will be forthcoming at once. We hope
it may be so, and that the inventor may
speadily realize, pecuniarily, all that his
genius, and his perseverance in the I'M
dertaking, merits
Brazil.
LISBON, June 13.-Rio de Janeirt