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establishment。
。。。＇
and the young blacksmith was so fortunate or rather so dexterous as
to be able to suggest several improvements in the machinery which
secured the approval of his employer； who made him a present of 20L。；
and very shortly promoted him to be the first mechanic in the
workshop。 On this stroke of good fortune Murray took a house at the
neighbouring village of Beeston； sent to Stockton for his wife； who
speedily joined him； and he now felt himself fairly started in the
world。 He remained with Mr。 Marshall for about twelve years； during
which he introduced numerous improvements in the machinery for
spinning flax； and obtained the reputation of being a first…rate
mechanic。 This induced Mr。 James Fenton and Mr。 David Wood to offer
to join him in the establishment of an engineering and machine…making
factory at Leeds； which he agreed to； and operations were commenced
at Holbeck in the year 1795。
As Mr。 Murray had obtained considerable practical knowledge of the
steam…engine while working at Mr。 Marshall's； he took principal
charge of the engine…building department； while his partner Wood
directed the machine…making。 In the branch of engine…building Mr。
Murray very shortly established a high reputation； treading close
upon the heels of Boulton and Wattso close； indeed； that that firm
became very jealous of him； and purchased a large piece of ground
close to his works with the object of preventing their extension。*
＇footnote。。。
The purchase of this large piece of ground； known as Camp Field； had
the effect of 〃plugging up〃 Matthew Murray for a time； and it
remained disused； except for the deposit of dead dogs and other
rubbish； for more than half a century。 It has only been enclosed
during the present year； and now forms part of the works of Messrs。
Smith； Beacock； and Tannet； the eminent tool…makers。
。。。＇
His additions to the steam…engine were of great practical value； one
of which； the self…acting apparatus attached to the boiler for the
purpose of regulating the intensity of fire under it； and
consequently the production of steam； is still in general use。 This
was invented by him as early as 1799。 He also subsequently invented
the D slide valve； or at least greatly improved it； while he added to
the power of the air…pump； and gave a new arrangement to the other
parts； with a view to the simplification of the powers of the engine。
To make the D valve work efficiently； it was found necessary to form
two perfectly plane surfaces； to produce which he invented his
planing machine。 He was also the first to adopt the practice of
placing the piston in a horizontal position in the common condensing
engine。 Among his other modifications in the steam…engine； was his
improvement of the locomotive as invented by Trevithick； and it ought
to be remembered to his honour that he made the first locomotive that
regularly worked upon any railway。
This was the engine erected by him for Blenkinsop； to work the
Middleton colliery railway near Leeds； on which it began to run in
1812； and continued in regular use for many years。 In this engine he
introduced the double cylinderTrevithick's engine being provided
with only one cylinder； the defects of which were supplemented by the
addition of a fly…wheel to carry the crank over the dead points。
But Matthew Murray's most important inventions； considered in their
effects on manufacturing industry； were those connected with the
machinery for heckling and spinning flax； which he very greatly
improved。 His heckling machine obtained for him the prize of the gold
medal of the Society of Arts； and this as well as his machine for wet
flax…spinning by means of sponge weights proved of the greatest
practical value。 At the time when these inventions were made the flax
trade was on the point of expiring； the spinners being unable to
produce yarn to a profit； and their almost immediate effect was to
reduce the cost of production； to improve immensely the quality of
the manufacture； and to establish the British linen trade on a solid
foundation。 The production of flax…machinery became an important
branch of manufacture at Leeds； large quantities being made for use
at home as well as for exportation； giving employment to an
increasing number of highly skilled mechanics。*
＇footnote。。。
Among more recent improvers of flax…machinery； the late Sir Peter
Fairbairn is entitled to high merit： the work turned out by him being
of first…rate excellence； embodying numerous inventions and
improvements of great value and importance。
。。。＇
Mr。 Murray's faculty for organising work； perfected by experience；
enabled him also to introduce many valuable improvements in the
mechanics of manufacturing。 His pre…eminent skill in mill…gearing
became generally acknowledged； and the effects of his labours are
felt to this day in the extensive and still thriving branches of
industry which his ingenuity and ability mainly contributed to
establish。 All the machine tools used in his establishment were
designed by himself； and he was most careful in the personal
superintendence of all the details of their construction。 Mr。 Murray
died at Leeds in 1826； in his sixty…third year。
We have not yet exhausted the list of claimants to the invention of
the Planing Machine； for we find still another in the person of
Richard Roberts of Manchester； one of the most prolific of modem
inventors。 Mr。 Roberts has indeed achieved so many undisputed
inventions； that he can readily afford to divide the honour in this
case with others。 He has contrived things so various as the
self…acting mule and the best electro…magnet； wet gas…meters and dry
planing machines； iron billard…tables and turret…clocks； the
centrifugal railway and the drill slotting…machine； an apparatus for
making cigars and machinery for the propulsion and equipment of
steamships； so that he may almost be regarded as the Admirable
Crichton of modem mechanics。
Richard Roberts was born in 1789； at Carreghova in the parish of
Llanymynech。 His father was by trade a shoemaker； to which he
occasionally added the occupation of toll…keeper。 The house in which
Richard was born stood upon the border line which then divided the
counties of Salop and Montgomery； the front door opening in the one
county； and the back door in the other。 Richard； when a boy； received
next to no education； and as soon as he was of fitting age was put to
common labouring work。 For some time he worked in a quarry near his
father's dwelling； but being of an ingenious turn； he occupied his
leisure in making various articles of mechanism； partly for amusement
and partly for profit。 One of his first achievements； while working
as a quarryman； was a spinning…wheel； of which he was very proud； for
it was considered 〃a good job。〃 Thus he gradually acquired dexterity
in handling tools； and he shortly came to entertain the ambition of
becoming a mechanic。
T