Chapter XIV
Fox of Derby—Murray of Leeds—Roberts and Whitworth of Manchester
The first Fox of Derby originally a butlerHis genius for mechanicsBegins business as a machinistInvents a Planing MachineMatthew Murray’s Planing MachineMurray’s early careerEmployed as a blacksmith by Marshall of LeedsHis improvements of flax-machineryImprovements in steam-enginesMakes the first working locomotive for Mr. BlenkinsopInvents the Heckling MachineHis improvements in toolsRichard Roberts of ManchesterFirst a quarryman, next a pattern-makerDrawn for the militia, and fliesHis travelsHis first employment at ManchesterGoes to London, and works at Maudslay’sRoberts’s numerous inventionsInvents a planing machineThe self-acting muleIron billiard-tablesImprovements in the locomotiveInvents the Jacquard punching machineMakes turret-clocks and electro-magnetsImprovement in screw-steamshipsMr. Whitworth’s improvement of the planing machineHis method of securing true surfacesHis great mechanical skill