an autobiography-第34章
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I have already referred to the Brothers Cowper。 They were among my most attached friends at Manchester。 Many of my most pleasant associations are connected with them。 Edward Cowper was one of the most successful mechanics in bringing the printing machine to a state of practical utility。 He was afterwards connected with Mr。 Applegath of London； the mechanical engineer of the Times newspaper* ＇footnote。。。 Mr。 Koeig's machines； first used at the Times office； were patented in 1814。 They were too complicated and expensive； and the inking was too imperfect for general adoption。 They were superseded by Mr。 Edward Cowper's machine； which he invented and patented in 1816。 He afterwards added the inking roller and table to the common press。 The effect of Mr。 Cowper's invention was to improve the quality and speed of printing； and to render literature accessible to millions of readers。 。。。＇ he invented for the proprietors a machine that threw off from 4500 to 5000 impressions in the hour。
In course of time the Brothers Cowper removed the manufacture of their printing machines from London ；to Manchester。 There they found skilled and energetic workmen； ready to carry their plans into effect。 They secured excellent premises； supplied with the best modern machine tools； in the buildings of Wren and Bennett； about two minutes' walk from my workshop； which I rented from the same landlords。
I had much friendly intercourse with the Cowpers； especially with Ebenezer the younger brother； who took up his residence at Manchester for the purpose of specially superintending the manufacture of printing machines。 These were soon in large demand； not only for the printing of books but of newspapers。 One of the first booksellers who availed himself of the benefits of the machine was Mr。 Charles Knight； who projected the Penny Magazine of 1832； and sold it to the extent of about 180；000 copies weekly。 It was also adopted by the Messrs。 Chambers of Edinburgh； and the proprietors of the Magasin Pittoresque of Paris。 The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge also used Cowper's machine in printing vast numbers of bibles and prayer…books； thereby reducing their price to one…third of the former cost。 There was scarcely a newspaper of any importance in the country that was not printed with a Cowper's machine。
As I possessed some self…acting tools that were specially suited to execute some of the most refined and important parts of the printing machine； the Messrs。 Cowper transferred their execution to me。 This was a great advantage to both。 They were relieved of the technical workmanship； while I kept my men and machine tools fully employed at times when they might otherwise have been standing idle。 Besides； I derived another advantage from my connection with the Brothers Cowper； by having frequent orders to supply my small steam…engines； which were found to be so suitable for giving motion to the printing machines。 At first the machines were turned by hand； and very exhausting work it was； but the small steam…engine soon relieved the labourer from his heavy work。
Edward frequently visited Manchester to arrange with his brother as to the increasing manufacture of the printing machines； and also to introduce such improvements in the minor details as the experience and special requirements of the printing trade suggested。 It was on these occasions that I had the happy opportunity of becoming intimately acquainted with him； and this resulted in a firm friendship which continued until the close of his admirable life。 The clear and masterly way in which； by some happy special faculty； he could catch up the essential principles and details of any mechanical combination； however novel the subject might be； was remarkable； and the quaint and humorous manner in which he treated all such subjects； in no small degree caused his shrewd and intelligent remarks to take a lasting hold of the memory。
On many occasions Edward Cowper gave Friday evening lectures on technical subjects at the Royal Institution； London。 Next to Faraday； no one held the attention of a delighted audience in so charming a manner as he did。 Like Faraday； he possessed the power of clearly unveiling his subject； and stripping it of all its complicated perplexities。 His illustrations were simple； clear； and understandable。 Technical words were avoided as much as possible。 He threw the ordinary run of lecturers far into the shade。 Intelligent boys and girls could understand him。 Next to Faraday； no one filled the theatre of the Institution with such eager and crowded audiences as he did。 His choice of subjects； as well as his masterly treatment； always rendered his lectures instructive and attractive。 He was one of the most kind…hearted of men； and the cheerful way in which he laid aside his ordinary business to give instruction and pleasure to others endeared him to a very wide circle of devoted friends。
CHAPTER 11。 Bridgewater FoundryPartnership。
My business went on prosperously。 I had plenty of orders； and did my best to execute them satisfactorily。 Shortly after the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway there was a largely increased demand for machine…making tools。 The success of that line led to the construction of other lines； concentrating in Manchester； and every branch of manufacture shared in the prosperity of the time。
There was a great demand for skilled； and even for unskilled labour。 The demand was greater than the supply。 Employers were subjected to exorbitant demands for increased rates of wages。 The workmen struck； and their wages were raised。 But the results were not always satisfactory。 Except in the cases of the old skilled hands； the work was executed more carelessly than before。 The workmen attended less regularly； and sometimes； when they ought to have been at work on Monday mornings； they did not appear until Wednesday。 Their higher wages had been of no use to them； but the reverse。 Their time had been spent for the most part in two days' extra drinking。
The irregularity and carelessness of the workmen naturally proved very annoying to the employers。 But it gave an increased stimulus to the demand for self…acting machine tools by which the untrustworthy efforts of hand labour might be avoided。 The machines never got drunk； their hands never shook from excess； they were never absent from work； they did not strike for wages； they were unfailing in their accuracy and regularity； while producing the most delicate or ponderous portions of mechanical structures。
It so happened that the demand for machine tools； consequent upon the increasing difficulties with the workmen； took place at the time that I began business in Manchester； and I had my fair share of the increased demand。 Most of my own machine tools were self…actingplaning machines； slide lathes； drilling； boring； slotting machines； and so on。 When set up in my workshop they distinguished themselves by their respective merits and efficiency。 They were； in fact； their own best advertisements。 The consequence was that orders for similar machines poured in upon me； and the floor of my flat became completely loaded with the work in hand。
The tenant below me； it will be remembered； was a glass…cutter。 He observed； with alarm； the bits of plaster from the roof coming down among his cut glasses and decanters。 He thought that the rafters overhead were giving way； and that the whole of my machinery and engines would come tumbling down upon him some day and involve him in ruin。 He probably exaggerated the danger； still there was some cause for fear。
When the massive castings on my floor were moved about from one part to another； the floor quivered and trembled under the pressure。 The glass…cutter complained to the landlord； and the landlord expostulated with me。 I did all that I could to equalise the pressure； and prevent vibration as much as possible。 But at length； in spite of all my care； an accident occurred which compelled me to take measures to remove my machinery to other premises。 As this removal was followed by consequences of much importance to myself； I must endeavour to state the circumstances under which it occurred。
My kind friend； John Kennedy； continued to take the greatest interest in my welfare。 He called in upon me occasionally。 He admired the quality of my work； and the beauty of my self…acting machinery。 More than that； he recommended me to his friends。 It was through his influence that I obtained an order for a high…pressure steam…engine of twenty horse…power to drive the machinery connected with a distillery at Londonderry； in Ireland。 I was afraid at first that I could not undertake the job。 The size of the engine was somewhat above the height of my flat； and it would probably occupy too much space in my already overcrowded workshop。 At the same time I was most anxious not to let such an order pass me。 I wished to please my friend Mr。 Kennedy； besides； the execution of the engine might lead to further business。
At length； after consideration； I undertook to execute the order。 Instead of constructing the engine perpendicularly； I constructed it lying upon its side。 There was a little extra difficulty； but I managed to complete it in the best style。 It had next to be taken to pieces for the purpose of being conveyed to Londonderry。 It was then that the accident happened。 My men had the misfortune to allow the end of the engine beam to crash through the floor！ There was a terrible scattering of lath and plaster and dust。 The glass…cutter was in a dreadful state。 He rushed forthwith to the landlord； and called upon him to come at once and judge for himself！
Mr。 Wren did come； and did judge for himself。 He looked in at the glass shop； and saw the damage that had been done amongst the tumblers and decanters。 There was the hole in the roof； through which the end of the engine beam had come and scattered the lath and plaster。 The landlord then came to me。 The whole flat was filled with machinery； including the steam…engine on its side； now being taken to pieces for the purpose of shipment to Ireland。 Mr。 Wren； in the kindest manner； begged me to remove from the premises as soon as I could； otherwise the whole building might be brought to the ground with the weight of my machinery。 〃Besides；〃 he argued； 〃you must have more convenient premises for your rapidly extending business。〃 It was quite true。 I must leave the place and establish myself elsewhere。
The reader may remember that while on my journey on foot from Liverpool to Manchester in 1830； I had rested myself for a little on the parapet of the bridge overlooking the canal near Patricroft； and gazed longingly upon a plot of land situated along the canal side。 On the afternoon of the day on which the engine beam crashed through the glass…cutter's roof； I went out again to look at that favourite piece of land。 There it was； unoccupied； just as I had seen it some years before。 I went to it and took note of its dimensions。 It consisted of about six acres。 It was covered with turf； and as flat and neat as a bowling…green。 It was bounded on one side by the Bridgewater Canal； edged by a neat stone margin 1050 feet long； on another side by the Liverpool and Manchester R
