|
Title: |
1867 Article-Seymour & Whitlock, Machine for Turning Lasts |
|
Source: |
American Artisan, 18 Sept 1867, pg. 161 |
|
Insert Date: |
6/28/2014 9:27:07 PM |
SEYMOUR J. WHITLOCK'S MACHINE FOR TURNING LASTS AND OTHER IRREGULAR FORMS.
To the ingenuity of Thomas Blanchard are we indebted for one of the most original machines ever devised for working in wood—a machine, which produces irregular forms by automatic movements.
An anecdote is related concerning the production of this machine which is too good to be lost, and will bear repeating, as it shows how a trifling observation may lead to important results. Many abortive attempts had been made at the Springfield armory to produce a machine to turn musket barrels of one form and size; but Mr. Blanchard's ingenuity succeeded in bringing it into a practical form. One of the artisans who had been employed on the former operations remarked that "his occupation was gone,” when one of the workmen engaged in shaping the gun-stocks in a triumphant manner declared that his trade could not be spoiled, as a machine could not be made to turn a gun-stock. This remark caused Blanchard to turn his attention to the
subject, and on the evening of that very day the principle of the machine was wrought out, and was patented on Sept. 6, 1819 (#X3131); but on account of a defective specification this patent was canceled and was re-issued on Jan. 20, 1820, and was extended by a special act of Congress for fourteen years from Jan. 20, 1834, and again extended by a similar bill in 1848, which act expired on Jan. 20, 1862. The patent was in force forty-two years ago, and had an existence longer than that of any other patent known in America.
Probably no machine ever wrought a greater revolution in shaping wood than this one, and certainly no one was ever invented of which the first principles were more perfect, and required no subsequent improvement of any importance. One of the earlier machines arranged for turning shoe lasts. |
|
1867 Seymour & Whitlock, Machine for Turning Lasts
|
|