Part 16 (2/2)

He became one of the most constant visitors at the foundry, in which he always took a lively interest He delighted to go through the workshops, and enjoy the sight of the active ress

When he had any specially intelligent visitors at Worsley Hall, which was frequently the case, he was sure to bring thee, and lead theh the various departhts was the pouring out of the s; when some twelve or sixteen tons, by the aid of my screw safety ladle, were decanted with as lass of wine from a decanter When this as performed towards dark, Lord Ellesmere's poetic fancy and artistic eye enabled hily

[footnote

I had the happiness to receive the kindest and most hospitable attention from Lord Ellesmere and his fae of fifty-seven, deprived me of one of my warmest friends The Countess of Ellesmere continued the friendshi+p until her death, which occurred several years later

The sas still exist in the children of the lamented pair, all of whouished their parents, and made them universally beloved by all classes, rich and poor

I must here say a feords as to er occasioned to workfurnace into a large ladle with one or two cross handles and levers, worked by a dozen or fifteen men The ladle contained many tons of molten iron, and was transferred by a crane to the reatest caution and steadiness

If a sturee upset, there was a splash of hot ainst the htful scalds and burns

[Ie] Old foundry ladle

To prevent these accidents I invented my Safety Foundry Ladle

I applied a screheel, keyed to the trunnion of the ladle, which was acted on by an endless screw attached to the sling of the ladle; and by this est ladle on its axis, and pour out its molten contents with the most perfect ease and safety

Not only was all risk of accident thus re was secured by the steady continuous flow of the white-hot metal into the mould The nervous anxiety and confusion that usually attended the pouring of the s was thus entirely avoided

[Ie] Safety foundry ladle

At the same time I introduced another improveh of ree contributed to the perfection of large castings

This consisted in hanging ”the skie of the ladle, so as to keep back the scorae that invariably float on the surface of the melted metal This was formerly done by hand, and many accidents were the consequence But now the clear flow of pure metal into the moulds was secured, while the scoriae were mechanically held back

All that the attendant has to do is to regulate the inclination of the Skie sufficiently under the surface of the outflowingillustrations will enable the reader to understand these simple but important technical iht have patented them, but preferred to s and descriptions of the Safety Foundry Ladle to all the principal founders both at horatified by their cordial expression of its practical value The ladle is now universally adopted The Society of Arts of Scotland, to whos and descriptions, did e silver ment of the invention

In order to carry on my business with effectiveness it was necessary that I should have some special personal assistance I could carry on the whole ”, and construction; but there was the ”financial” business to be attended to,--the counting-house, the correspondence, and the arrangement of money affairs I wanted some help with respect to these outer matters

When I proceeded to take ht it a very bold stroke, especially for a young man who had been only about three years in business Nevertheless, there were others atchedto join in h adventure it was not They were ready to take a financial interest in ood invest to place their capital inpartners But I was already beyond the ”sleeping partner” state of affairs Whoever joined ive the faculties of his mind to the prosperity of the concern I cohly judicious friend Edward Lloyd He was alilling to advise h I took care never to encroach upon his kindness

He concurred withpartners I therefore continued to look out for a working partner In the end I was fortunate My friend, Mr Tho been informed of my desire, made inquiries, and found the man likely to suit me He furnished him with a letter of introduction toman became my worthy partner, Holbrook Gaskell

He had served his time with Yates and cox, ironobtained considerable experience in the co possessed of ahis fortune with -house department, and conduct such portion of the correspondence as did not require any special technical knowledge ofThe latter must necessarily remain in my hands, because I found that the ”off-hand”

sketches which I introduced in estions were ible than any amount of written words

I was much pleased with the frank and friendlybetween us was ht forwardness that prevails in Lancashi+re, the articles of partnershi+p were at once drawn up and signed, and the firether with hearty zeal for a period of sixteen successive years; and I believe Mr Gaskell had no reason to regret his connection with the Bridgewater Foundry

The reason of Mr Gaskell leaving the concern was the state of his health After his long partnershi+p with me, he was attacked by a serious illness, when his medical adviser earnestly recommended him to retire from all business affairs This was the cause of his reluctant retire symptoms departed, and he recovered his former health He then embarked in an extensive soda manufactory, in conjunction with one of our pupils, whose taste for che

A prosperous business was established, and at the time I write these lines Mr Gaskell continues a hale and healthy e fortune, accumulated by the skilful manner in which he has conducted his extensive affairs

CHAPTER 12 Free Trade in Ability--The Strike--Death ofabundance of skilled workmen in South Lancashi+re and Cheshi+re I was in the neighbourhood of Manchester, which forifted with mechanical instinct

From an early period the finest sort of land Much of the talent is inherited

It descends froeneration I may ree of Manchester: that much of the mechanical excellence of its workmen descends frohbourhood at the Noro de Lupus, the chief ars, in 1066