Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1916 — EXPIRES AFTER HE FINISHES TUNNEL [ARTICLE]

EXPIRES AFTER HE FINISHES TUNNEL

NOTED BRITISH INVENTOR DIEB AS GIANT TASK OP 1849 IS COMPLETED Devised Machinery That Saved Britain Huge Sums. The name of Sir Marc Isambard Brunei stands prominently to the fore as one of the world’s greatest inventors. His fame rests especially on his invention of the ships’ blocks, but a score of inventions are to his credit, all of which have been of great worth and helped to revolutionise various lines of work for which they were intended. In the construction of the “block machinery,” Brunei was fortunate enough to secure the hearty co-opera-tion of Henry Maudslay, and having completed his drawings and working models, Brunei-in 1801 took out a patent for his invention. He was given an introduction to Lord Spencer at the admiralty, who in turn introduced him to the inspector general of the naval works. After long negotiations and delay the government ultimately, in May, 1803. adopted his proposals and he was directed to erect his machinery at Portsmouth dock yard. In spite of many hindrances the machinery was completed in 1806. The saving of labor and expense effected by the introduction of Brunei’s ingenious mechanism was enormous. The system consisted of fortythree machines, executing the various processes In the block manufacture, and by its aid operations, which by the old method had required the uncertain labor of over 100 men, could be carried out with precision by ten. The estimated saving to the country in the first years after the machinery was in full working order was about SIIO,OOO. Brunei had incurred great expense in carrying out his plans, but his claims received .the tardy recognitions from the government. In domperygktion and as a reward for his invention he ultimately received $85,000“.

Brunei was essentially an inventor. In 1799 he took our his first patent In England, which was for a duplicate writing and drawing machine for twisting cotton threads and forming it into balls. Then followed a machine for trimmings and borders for muslins, lawns, apd cambrics, somewhat of the nature of a sewing machine. He also took out patents for ‘ the manufacture of tin-foil,” for ‘‘copying presses.” for “stereotype printing plates,” a contrivance for making the small boxes used by druggists and a nail making machine. t Brunei, visited the United States in 1792, and for some time was engaged in engineer work in and around New York. It was in this country that he matured his ijieas for the making of ships’ blocks, but he was compelled to return to England when he ‘found that the United States was not able to afford him full occupation for his inventive genius. After the completion of the Thames tunnel his health became seriouslyimpaired from the labor he had undergone in its execution, and he expired Dec. 12, 1849, in his 81st year,after long illness.

A short time before the termination of the war between England and France he devised a plan for making shoes by machinery, and under the countenance of the Duke of Y ork, the shoes so manufactured were in-, troduced for the use of the army, on account of Their strength, cheapness and durability: but at the peace, in 4815, the machines were laid aside, manual labor having become much cheaper. Steam navigation also attracted Brunei's attention and he 'became deeply interested in establishing the Ramsgate steam vessels, which were among the first that plied effectively on the River Thames. About this period, after much labor and perseverance, he induced the admiralty to permit the application of si earn for towing vessels to sea, the experiments being made chiefly at his own expense, a small sum in aid having been promised, but withdrawn before the completion of the trfals, the admiralty considering the attempt too chimerical to' be seriously entertained. —Pittsburg Dispatch.