按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in handling tools； and he shortly came to entertain the ambition of
becoming a mechanic。
There were several ironworks in the neighbour hood； and thither he
went in search of employment。 He succeeded in finding work as a
pattern…maker at Bradley； near Bilston； under John Wilkinson； the
famous ironmastera man of great enterprise as well as mechanical
skill； for he was the first man； as already stated； that Watt could
find capable of boring a cylinder with any approach to truth； for the
purposes of his steam…engines。 After acquiring some practical
knowledge of the art of working in wood as well as iron； Roberts
proceeded to Birmingham； where he passed through different shops；
gaining further experience in mechanical practice。 He tried his hand
at many kinds of work； and acquired considerable dexterity in each。
He was regarded as a sort of jack…of…all…trades； for he was a good
turner； a tolerable wheel…wright； and could repair mill…work at a
pinch。
He next moved northward to the Horsley ironworks； Tipton； where he
was working as a pattern…maker when he had the misfortune to be drawn
in his own county for the militia。 He immediately left his work and
made his way homeward to Llanymynech； determined not to be a soldier
or even a militiaman。 But home was not the place for him to rest in；
and after bidding a hasty adieu to his father； he crossed the country
northward on foot and reached Liverpool； in the hope of finding work
there。 Failing in that； he set out for Manchester and reached it at
dusk； very weary and very miry in consequence of the road being in
such a wretched state of mud and ruts。 He relates that； not knowing a
person in the town； he went up to an apple…stall ostensibly to buy a
pennyworth of apples； but really to ask the stall…keeper if he knew
of any person in want of a hand。 Was there any turner in the
neighbourhood？ Yes； round the corner。 Thither he went at once； found
the wood…turner in； and was promised a job on the following morning。
He remained with the turner for only a short time； after which he
found a job in Salford at lathe and tool…making。 But hearing that the
militia warrant…officers were still searching for him； he became
uneasy and determined to take refuge in London。
He trudged all the way on foot to that great hiding…place； and first
tried Holtzapffel's； the famous tool…maker's； but failing in his
application he next went to Maudslay's and succeeded in getting
employment。 He worked there for some time； acquiring much valuable
practical knowledge in the use of tools； cultivating his skill by
contact with first…class workmen； and benefiting by the spirit of
active contrivance which pervaded the Maudslay shops。 His manual
dexterity greatly increased； and his inventive ingenuity fully
stimulated； he determined on making his way back to Manchester；
which； even more than London itself； at that time presented abundant
openings for men of mechanical skill。 Hence we find so many of the
best mechanics trained at Maudslay's and Clement'sNasmyth； Lewis；
Muir； Roberts； Whitworth； and othersshortly rising into distinction
there as leading mechanicians and tool…makers。
The mere enumeration of the various results of Mr。 Roberts's
inventive skill during the period of his settlement at Manchester as
a mechanical engineer； would occupy more space than we can well
spare。 But we may briefly mention a few of the more important。 In
1816； while carrying on business on his own account in Deansgate； he
invented his improved sector for correctly sizing wheels in blank
previously to their being cut； which is still extensively used。 In
the same year he invented his improved screw…lathe； and in the
following year； at the request of the boroughreeve and constables of
Manchester； he contrived an oscillating and rotating wet gas meter of
a new kind； which enabled them to sell gas by measure。 This was the
first meter in which a water lute was applied to prevent the escape
of gas by the index shaft； the want of which； as well as its great
complexity； had prevented the only other gas meter then in existence
from working satisfactorily。 The water lute was immediately adopted
by the patentee of that meter。 The planing machine； though claimed；
as we have seen； by many inventors； was constructed by Mr。 Roberts
after an original plan of his own in 1817； and became the tool most
generally employed in mechanical workshopsacting by means of a
chain and rackthough it has since been superseded to some extent by
the planing machine of Whitworth； which works both ways upon an
endless screw。 Improvements followed in the slide…lathe （giving a
large range of speed with increased diameters for the same size of
headstocks； &c。）； in the wheel…cutting engine； in the scale…beam （by
which； with a load of 2 oz。 on each end； the fifteen…hundredth part
of a grain could be indicated）； in the broaching…machine； the
slotting…machine； and other engines。
But the inventions by which his fame became most extensively known
arose out of circumstances connected with the cotton manufactures of
Manchester and the neighbourhood。 The great improvements which he
introduced in the machine for making weavers' reeds； led to the
formation of the firm of Sharp； Roberts； and Co。； of which Mr。
Roberts was the acting mechanical partner for many years。 Not less
important were his improvements in power…looms for weaving fustians；
which were extensively adopted。 But by far the most famous of his
inventions was unquestionably his Self…acting Mule； one of the most
elaborate and beautiful pieces of machinery ever contrived。 Before
its invention； the working of the entire machinery of the
cotton…mill； as well as the employment of the piecers； cleaners； and
other classes of operatives； depended upon the spinners； who； though
receiving the highest rates of pay； were by much the most given to
strikes； and they were frequently accustomed to turn out in times
when trade was brisk； thereby bringing the whole operations of the
manufactories to a standstill； and throwing all the other operatives
out of employment。 A long…continued strike of this sort took place in
1824； when the idea occurred to the masters that it might be possible
to make the spinning…mules run out and in at the proper speed by
means of self…acting machinery； and thus render them in some measure
independent of the more refractory class of their workmen。 It seemed；
however； to be so very difficult a problem； that they were by no
means sanguine of success in its solution。 Some time passed before
they could find any mechanic willing so much as to consider the
subject。 Mr。 Ashton of Staley…bridge made every effort with this
object； but the answer he got was uniformly the same。 The thing was
declared to be impracticable and impossible。 Mr。 Ashton； accompanied
by two other leading spinners； called on Sharp； Roberts； and Co。； to
seek an interview with Mr。 Roberts。 They introduc