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While such were the advances made in the arts of tool…making and
engine…construction through the labours of Bramah； Maudslay； and
Clement； there were other mechanics of almost equal eminence who
flourished about the same time and subsequently in several of the
northern manufacturing towns。 Among these may be mentioned James Fox
of Derby； Matthew Murray and Peter Fairbairn of Leeds； Richard
Roberts； Joseph Whitworth； James Nasmyth； and William Fairbairn of
Manchester； to all of whom the manufacturing industry of Great
Britain stands in the highest degree indebted。
James Fox； the founder of the Derby firm of mechanical engineers； was
originally a butler in the service of the Rev。 Thomas Gisborne； of
Foxhall Lodge； Staffordshire。 Though a situation of this kind might
not seem by any means favourable for the display of mechanical
ability； yet the butler's instinct for handicraft was so strong that
it could not be repressed； and his master not only encouraged him in
the handling of tools in his leisure hours； but had so genuine an
admiration of his skill as well as his excellent qualities of
character； that he eventually furnished him with the means of
beginning business on his own account。
The growth and extension of the cotton； silk； and lace trades； in the
neighbourhood of Derby； furnished Fox with sufficient opportunities
for the exercise of his mechanical skill； and he soon found ample
scope for its employment。 His lace machinery became celebrated； and
he supplied it largely to the neighbouring town of Nottingham； he
also obtained considerable employment from the great firms of
Arkwright and Strutt the founders of the modem cotton manufacture。
Mr。 Fox also became celebrated for his lathes； which were of
excellent quality； still maintaining their high reputation； and
besides making largely for the supply of the home demand； he exported
much machinery abroad； to France； Russia； and the Mauritius。
The present Messrs。 Fox of Derby； who continue to carry on the
business of the firm； claim for their grandfather； its founder； that
he made the first planing machine in 1814；*
＇footnote。。。
Engineer； Oct。 10th； 1862。
。。。＇
and they add that the original article continued in use until quite
recently。 We have been furnished by Samuel Hall； formerly a workman
at the Messrs。 Fox's； with the following description of the
machine： 〃 It was essentially the same in principle as the planing
machine now in general use； although differing in detail。 It had a
self…acting ratchet motion for moving the slides of a compound slide
rest； and a self…acting reversing tackle； consisting of three bevel
wheels； one a stud； one loose on the driving shaft； and another on a
socket； with a pinion on the opposite end of the driving shaft
running on the socket。 The other end was the place for the driving
pulley。 A clutch box was placed between the two opposite wheels；
which was made to slide on a feather； so that by means of another
shaft containing levers and a tumbling ball； the box on reversing was
carried from one bevel wheel to the opposite one。〃 The same James Fox
is also said at a very early period to have invented a screw…cutting
machine； an engine for accurately dividing and cutting the teeth of
wheels； and a self…acting lathe。 But the evidence as to the dates at
which these several inventions are said to have been made is so
conflicting that it is impossible to decide with whom the merit of
making them really rests。 The same idea is found floating at the same
time in many minds； the like necessity pressing upon all； and the
process of invention takes place in like manner： hence the
contemporaneousness of so many inventions； and the disputes that
arise respecting them； as described in a previous chapter。
There are still other claimants for the merit of having invented the
planing machine； among whom may be mentioned more particularly
Matthew Murray of Leeds； and Richard Roberts of Manchester。 We are
informed by Mr。 March； the present mayor of Leeds； head of the
celebrated tool…manufacturing firm of that town； that when he first
went to work at Matthew Murray's； in 1814； a planing machine of his
invention was used to plane the circular part or back of the D valve；
which he had by that time introduced in the steam…engine。 Mr。 March
says； 〃I recollect it very distinctly； and even the sort of framing
on which it stood。 The machine was not patented； and like many
inventions in those days； it was kept as much a secret as possible；
being locked up in a small room by itself； to which the ordinary
workmen could not obtain access。 The year in which I remember it
being in use was； so far as I am aware； long before any
planing…machine of a similar kind had been invented。〃
Matthew Murray was born at Stockton…on…Tees in the year 1763。 His
parents were of the working class； and Matthew； like the other
members of the family； was brought up with the ordinary career of
labour before him。 When of due age his father apprenticed him to the
trade of a blacksmith； in which he very soon acquired considerable
expertness。 He married before his term had expired； after which；
trade being slack at Stockton； he found it necessary to look for work
elsewhere。 Leaving his wife behind him； he set out for Leeds with his
bundle on his back； and after a long journey on foot； he reached that
town with not enough money left in his pocket to pay for a bed at the
Bay Horse inn； where he put up。 But telling the landlord that he
expected work at Marshall's； and seeming to be a respectable young
man； the landlord trusted him； and he was so fortunate as to obtain
the job which he sought at Mr。 Marshall's； who was then beginning the
manufacture of flax； for which the firm has since become so famous。
Mr。 Marshall was at that time engaged in improving the method of
manufacture；*
＇footnote。。。
We are informed in Mr。 Longstaffe's Annals and Characteristics of
Darlington； that the spinning of flax by machinery was first begun by
one John Kendrew； an ingenious self…taught mechanic of that town； who
invented a machine for the purpose； for which he took out a patent in
1787。 Mr。 Marshall went over from Leeds to see his machine； and
agreed to give him so much per spindle for the right to use it。 But
ceasing to pay the patent right； Kendrew commenced an action against
him for a sum of nine hundred pounds alleged to be due under the
agreement。 The claim was disputed； and Kendrew lost his action； and
it is added in Longstaffe's Annals； that even had he succeeded； it
would have been of no use； for Mr。 Marshall declared that he had not
then the money wherewith to pay him。 It is possible that Matthew
Murray may have obtained some experience of flax…machinery in working
for Kendrew； which afterwards proved of use to him in Mr。 Marshall's
establishment。
。。。＇
and the young blacksmith was so fortunate or rather so dexterous as
to be able to