James Nasmyth: An Autobiography – New Lindsay Book 1989

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Mebane, North Carolina, United States
Jan 30th

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James Nasmyth: An Autobiography, edited by Samuel Smiles, originally published by Harper & Brothers, new York, NY, 1884. Reprinted by Lindsay Publications, Bradley, Ill., 1989. 4 x 7 paperback, xviii + 461 pages. ISBN 1-55918-029-3 Please note this book is new, not used. It is “new old stock” – books bought new over ten years, which have been in a box forgotten until recently. James Hall Nasmyth was born in August 1808 in Scotland, son of a well-known landscape and portrait painter in Edinburgh. In 1828, Nasmyth designed and built a complete steam carriage, but it was only able to carry eight passengers for one mile. Determined to become employed in the workshop of the famous mechanician, engineer, and machine tool builder Henry Maudslay, despite his being unable to afford to place him as an apprentice at Maudslay's works. Nasmyth designed and produced a working model of a high-pressure steam engine. When he traveled to London and showed the drawings and model to Maudslay, he was hired as an assistant workman. In 1831, Nasmyth established his own company, in Lancaster. In August 1836, he joined with business partner Holbrook Gaskell to establish the Bridgewater Foundry in Lancashire. It was here that he developed and built steam power hammer, for which he became famous. From the Preface: The narrative abundantly illustrates Mr. Nasmyth's own definition of engineering; namely, common sense applied to the use of materials. In his case, common sense has been more especially applied to facilitating and perfecting work by means of Machine Tools. Civilisation began with tools; and every step in advance has been accomplished through their improvement. Handicraft labour, in bone, stone, or wood, was the first stage in the development of man's power; and tools or machines, in iron or steel, are the last and most efficient method of economising it, and enabling him to intelligently direct the active and inert forces of nature. Table of Contents: Chapter 1 My Ancestry Sentiment of Ancestry, Origin of the name of Naesmyth, Naesmyth of Posso, Naesmyth of Netherton, Battle of Bothwell Brig, Estate confiscated, Elspeth Naesmyth, Michael Naesmyth builder and architect, Fort at Inversnaid, Naesmyth family tomb, Former masters and men, Michael Naesmyth's son, New Edinburgh, Grandmother Naesmyth, Uncle Michael Chapter 2 Alexander Nasmyth Born 1758 - Grassmarket, Edinburgh - Education, The Bibler's Seat, The brothers Erskine, Apprenticed to a coachbuilder, The Trustees' Academy, Huguenot artisans, Alexander Runciman, Copy of "The Laocoon", Assistant to Allan Ramsay, Faculty of resourcefulness, Begins as portrait painter, Friendship with Miller of Dalswinton, Miller and the first steamboat, Visit to Italy, Marriage to Barbara Foulis, Burns the poet, Edinburgh clubs, Landscape beauty, Abandons portrait for landscape painting, David Roberts, R.A., Dean Bridge, St. Bernard's Well, Nelson's Monument, Bow-and-string bridges, Sunday rivet Chapter 3 An Artist's Family Sir James Hall, Geology of Edinburgh, Friends of the family, Henry Raeburn, Evenings at home, Society of artists, "Caller Aon", Management of the household, The family, Education of six sisters, The Nasmyth classes, Pencil drawing, Excursions round Edinburgh, Graphic memoranda, Patrick Nasmyth, sketch of his life, Removes to London, Visit to Hampshire, Original prices of his works, His friends, His death, Chapter 4 My Early Years Born 1808, Mary Peterkin, The brilliant red poppies, Left-handed, Patrick's birthday, Vocal performance, A wonderful escape, Events of the war, The French prisoners, Entry of the 42d into Edinburgh, Bleaching "claes" on the Calton, The Greenside workshops, The chimes of St. Giles', The Edinburgh Market, The caddies, The fishwives, The "floore", Traditional fondness for cats, A Nasmyth prayer, Chapter 5 My School-days My first schoolmaster, "Preter pluperfect tense", The "penny pig", Country picnics, Pupil at the High School, Dislike of Latin, Love of old buildings, Their masonry, Sir Walter Scott, "The Heart of Midlothian", John Linnell, The collecting period, James Watt, My father's workshop, Make peeries, cannon, and "steels", School friendships, Paterson's ironfoundry, His foremen, Johnie Syme, Tom Smith and chemical experiments, Kid gloves and technical knowledge Chapter 6 Mechanical Beginnings Chapter 7 Henry Maudslay, London Study arithmetic and geometry, Practise art of drawing, Its important uses, Make tools and blowpipe, Walks round Edinburgh, Volcanic origin of the neighbourhood, George the Fourth's vist, The Radical Road, Destructive fires, Journey to Stirling, The Devon Ironworks, Robert Bald, Carron Ironworks, Coats of mail found at Bannockburn, Models of condensing steam-engine, Professor Leslie, Edinburgh School of Arts, Attend University classes, Brass-casting in the bedroom, George Douglass, Make a working steam-engine, Sympathy of activity, The Expansometer, Make a road steam-carriage, Desire to enter Maudslay's factory Voyage to London with specimens of workmanship, First walk through London, Visit to Henry Maudslay, The interview, Exhibit my specimens, Taken on as assistant, The private workshop, Maudslay's constructive excellence, His maxims, Uniformity of screws, Meeting with Henry Brougham, David Wilkie, Visit to the Admiralty Museum, The Block machinery, The Royal Mint, Steam yacht trip to Richmond, Lodgings taken, "A clean crossing", Chapter 8 Maudslay's Private Assistant Enter Maudslay's service, Rudimentary screw generator, The guide screw, Interview with Faraday, Rate of wages, Economical living, My cooking stove, Make model of marine steam-engine, My collar-nut cutting machine, Maudslay's elements of high-class workmanship, Flat filing, Standard planes, Maudslay's "Lord Chancellor", Maudslay's Visitors, General Bentham, Barton, Donkin and Chantrey, The Cundell brothers, Walks round London, Norman architecture, Chapter 9 Holiday in the Manufacturing Districts Coaching trip to Liverpool, Coventry, English scenery, 'The Rocket', The two Stephensons, Opening of the railway, William Fawcett, Birkenhead, Walk back to London, Patricroft, Manchester, Edward Tootal, Sharp, Roberts and Co., Manchester industry, Coalbrookdale, The Black Country, Dudley Castle, Wren's Nest Hill, Birmingham, Boulton and Watt, William Murdoch, John Drain, Kenilworth, Warwick, Oxford, Windsor, London, Chapter 10 Begin Business at Manchester Stamping machine improved, Astronomical instruments, A reflecting telescope proposed, Death of Maudslay, Joshua Field, 'Talking books', Leave Maudslay and Field, Take temporary workshop in Edinburgh, Archie Torry, Construct a rotary steam-engine, Prepair a stock of machine tools, Visit to Liverpool, John Cragg, Visit to Manchester, John Kennedy, Grant Brothers, Take a workshop, Tools removed to Manchester, A prosperous business begun, Story of the brothers Grant, Trip to Elgin and Castle Grant, The brothers Cowper, The printing machine, Edward Cowper, Chapter 11 Bridgewater Foundry – Partnership Demand for skilled labour, Machine tools in request, My flat overloaded, A crash among the decanters, The land at Patricroft, Lease from Squire Trafford, Bridgewater Foundary begun, Trip to Londonderry, The Giant's Causeway, Cottage at Barton, The Bridgewater canal, Lord Francis Egerton, Safety foundry ladle, Holbrook Gaskell taken as partner, His eventual retirement, Chapter 12 Free Trade in Ability - The Strike - Death of my Father Origin of mechanical instinct in Lancashire and Cheshire, Hugo de Lupus, The Peter Stubb's files, Worsley labourers, Promotion from the ranks, Free trade in ability, Foreman lieutenants, Archie Torry, James Hutton, John Clarke, Thomas Crewdson, Trades' Union interference, A strike ordered, Workman advertised for, A reinforcement of Scotch mechanics, The strike scotched, Millwrights and engineers, Indenture- bound apprentices, Visits of my father, Enthusiastic reception, His last work, His death, Testimony of Sir David Wilkie Chapter 13 My Marriage - The Steam Hammer Preparations for a home, Influence of chance occurances, Visit to Mr. Hartop's near Barnsley, Important interview, Eventual marriage, Great Western Railway locomotives, Mr. Humphries and 'Great Western' steamship, Forging of paddle-shaft, Want of range of existing hammers, The first steam hammer sketched, Its arrangement, The paddle shaft abandoned, My sketch copied and adopted, My visit to Creuzot, Find steam hammer in operation, A patent taken out, First steam hammer made in England, Its general adoption, Patent secured for United States, Chapter 14 Travels in France and Italy The French Minister of Marine at Paris, Rouen, Bayeux, Cherbourg, Brest, Rochefort, Indret, M. Rosine, Architecture of Nismes, Marseilles, Toulon, Voyage to Naples, Genoa, Pisa, Bay of Naples, The National Museum, Visit to Vesuvius, The edge of the crater, Volcanic commotion, Overflows of burning lava, Wine- shop at Rosina, Return ride to Naples Chapter 15 Steam Hammer Pile-driver The Royal Dockyards, Steam hammer for Devonport, Scene at the first stroke, My Lords of the Admiralty, Steam hammer pile-driver required, The new docks at Devonport, The pile-driver delivered, Its description, Trail against the old method, Its general adoption, Happy thoughts, Testing of chain cables and anchors, Causes of failure, Punctilliousness of officials at royal dockyards, Egyptian workman employed, Affiffi Lalli, Letter from Faraday Chapter 16 Nuremberg -- St. Petersburg -- Dannemora. Visit to Nuremberg, Albert Durer, Adam Krafft, Visit to St. Petersburg, General Wilson, General Greg, Struve the astronomer, Palaces and shops, Ivy ornamentation, The Emperor Nicholas a royal salute, Francis Baird, Work of Russian serfs, The Izak Church, Voyage to Stokholm, Visit to Upsala, The iron mines of Dannemora, To Gottenburg by steamer, Motala, Trollhatten Falls, Sweedish people, Copenhagen, Tycho Brahe, Zeland and Holstein, Holland, and return Chapter 17 More about Bridgewater Foundry - Woolwich Arsenal Increased demand for self-acting tools, Promotions of lads, The Trades' Union again, Strike against Platt Brothers, Edward Tootal's advice, Friendliness between engineering firms, Small high-pressure engines, Uses of waste steam, Improvements in calico-printing, Improvements at Woolwich Arsenal, Enlargement of workshops, Improved machine tools, The gun foundry and laboratories, Orders for Spain and Russia, Rope factory machinery, Russian Officers, Grand Duke Constantine, Lord Ellesmere's visitors, Admiral Kornileff Chapter 18 Astronomical pursuits Hobbies at home, Drawing, Washington Irving, Pursuit of astronomy, Wonders of the heavens, Construction of a new speculum, William Lassell, Warren de la Rue, Home-made reflecting telescope, A ghost at Patricroft, Twenty-inch diameter speculum, Drawings of the moon's surface, Structure of the moon, Lunar craters, Pico, Wrinkles of age, Extinct craters, Landscape scenery of the moon, Meeting of British Association at Edinburgh, The Bass Rock, Professor Owen, Robert Chambers, The grooved rocks, Hugh Miller and boulder clay, Lecture on the moon, Visit the Duke of Argyll, Basaltic formation at Mull, The Giant's Causeway, The great exhibition, Steam hammer engine, Prize medals, Interview with the Queen and Prince Consort, Lord Cockburn, Visit to Bonally, D. O. Hill, Chapter 19 More about Astronomy A reflecting telescope constructed -- Trunnion turn-table, Sir David Brewster, Edward Cowper's lecture, Cause of the sun's light, Lord Murray, Sir T. Mitchell, The Milky Way, Countless suns, Infusoria in Bridgewater Canal, Rotary movements of heavenly bodies, Geological Society meeting, Dr Vaugham, Improvement of Small Arms Factory, Enfield, Generosity of United States Government, The Enfield Rifle, Chapter 20 Retirement from Business Letter from David Roberts, R. A., Puddling iron by steam, The process tried, Sir Henry Bessemer's invention, Discussion at Cheltenham, Bessemer's account, Prepair to retire from business, The Countess of Ellesmere, The "Cottage in Kent", The "antibilious stock", Hammerfield, Penshurst, Planting and gardening, The Crystal Palace, Music, Tools and telescopes, The greenhouse, Chapter 21 Active leisure Astronomy, Lecture on the Moon, Edinburgh, Old friends, Visit to the Continent - Paris, Chartres, Nismes, Chamounix, Art of photography, Sir John Herschel, Spots on the sun's surface, E.J. Stone, De la Rue, Visit from Sir John Herschel, Cracking glass globe, A million spots and letters, Geological diagram, Father Secchi at Rome, Lord Lyndhurst, Visit to Herschel, His last letter, Publication of The Moon, Philip H. Calderon, Cardinal Manning, Miss Herschel, William Lassell, Windmill grinding of speculum, The dial of life, End of recollections, List of Inventions and Contrivances Articles on the Sun-Ray origin of the Pyramids and Cuneiform Character List of Inventions and Contrivances 1825. A mode of applying Steam Power for the Traction of Canal Barges, without injury to the Canal Banks. 1826. An Instrument for Measuring the Total Comparative Expansion of all Solid Bodies. 1827. A Method of increasing the Effectiveness of Steam by super-heating it on its Passage from the Boiler to the Engine. 1828. A Method of "chucking" delicate Metal-work, in order that it may be turned with perfect truth A Method of casting Specula for Reflecting Telescopes, so as to ensure perfect Freeness from Defects, at the same time enhancing the Brilliancy of the Alloy. 1829. A Mode of transmitting Rotary Motion by means of a Flexible Shaft, formed of a Coiled Spiral Wire or Rod of Steel. A Mode of cutting Square or Hexagonal Collared Nuts or Bolt-Heads by means of a Revolving File or Cutter. An Investigation into the Origin and Mode of writing the Cuneiform Character. 1836. A Machine for cutting the Key-Grooves in Metal Wheels and Belt Pulleys, of ANY Diameter. An Instrument for finding and marking the Centres of Cylindrical Rods or Bolts about to be turned on the Lathe. Improvement in Steam-Engine Pistons, and in Water and Air-Pump Buckets, so as to lessen Friction and dispense with Packing. An instantaneous Mode of producing graceful Curves, suitable for designing Vases and other graceful objects in Pottery and Glass. A Machine for planing the smaller or detail parts of Machinery, whether Flat of Cylindrical. 1837. Solar Ray Origins of the form of the Egyptian Pyramids, Obelisks, etc Method of reversing the action of Slide Lathes. 1838. Self-adjusting Bearings for the Shafts of Machinery Invention of Safety Foundry Ladle Invention of the Steam Ram 1839. Invention of the Steam Hammer, in its general principles and details Invention of the Floating Mortar or Torpedo Ram. A Double-faced Wedge-shaped Sluice-Valve for Main Street Water-pipes. A Hydraulic Mattress Press, capable of exerting a pressure of Twenty thousand tons. 1840. A Tapping Square, or instrument by which Perfect Verticality of the Tapping of Screwed Holes is insured. A Mode of turning Segmental Work in the Ordinary Lathe.

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