Maudslay, Henry

MAUDSLAY, Henry, 1771-1831
Maudslay, was brought up near Woolwich Arsenal. His father, a cabinet maker, having joined the army and then been invalided out, became a storeman in the Arsenal. This enabled the young Maudslay to obtain a position in that organisation in which he rapidly became a proficient worker, particularly after he was transferred to the metalworking shops. His ability came to the ears of Bramah who was looking for a capable mechanic to assist him in the development of his patented lock. However, when Maudslay appeared at Bramah's works both Bramah and his foreman were at first doubtful of his capability for he had served no recognised apprenticeship. But on Maudslay offering to re-build a damaged bench vice as a test of his proficiency and finding that he did so expeditiously and well, they became convinced of his suitability for the post offered.
Maudslay stayed with Bramah for ten years eventually becoming foreman. In 1797 he left to found his own business, having in the meantime married Sarah Tindel, Bramah's housemaid. His claim to fame in the field of machine tools lies in his invention of the screwcutting lathe and the slide rest.
Brunel tested Maudslay's capabilleties dit showing him drawings without telling what they where and left it to maudslay to find out. Supsecquently his employment by Brunel in 1802 to produce the wood working machinery for the making of ships blocks established him as an engineering designer and manufacturer. The block-making plant, probably the first example of mass production, was a complete success. This helped to found the engineering concern of Maudslay,Son and Field, but also introduced Maudslay to two engineers with whom he had much in common, Simon Goodrich, Chief machinist in charge at the Porthsmouth dockyard and Joshua Field, a draftsman who later became his partner. This led to a great increase in business involving an expansion of workshops facilities.
His workshop (Maudslay) was to become a training ground for many young engineers. Among them were Joseph Clement, Engine builder and maker of precision machine tools, James Steward.,Marine engineer and inventor Richard Roberts, Locomotive-engineer, Joseph Withworth, the greatest British machine-tool manufacturer of the nineteenth century and also James Nasmyth, the inventor of the steamhammer.It is clear that these men inherited much of their love for an orderly and precise approach to design from the early experience of working with Maudslay.
Sources; The art of the engineer by Ken Baynes and francis Pugh
and the OT web site.

Unknown triangular lathe.

Lathe made between 1812-1820.