One of the consequences which has arisen in the prosecution of the
invention of the calculating machinery, has been the discovery of a
multitude of mechanical contrivances, which have been elicited by the
exigencies of the undertaking, and which are as novel in their nature as
the purposes were novel which they were designed to attain. In some
cases several different contrivances were devised for the attainment of
the same end; and that among them which was best suited for the purpose
was finally selected: the rejected expedients--those overflowings or
waste of the invention--were not, however, always found useless. Like
the _waste_ in various manufactures, they were soon converted to purposes
of utility. These rejected contrivances have found their way, in many
cases, into the mills of our manufacturers; and we now find them busily
effecting purposes, far different from any which the inventor dreamed
of, in the spinning-frames of Manchester.[17]
[Footnote 17: An eminent and wealthy retired manufacturer at Manchester
assured us, that on the occasion of a visit to London, when he was
favoured with a view of the calculating machinery, he found in it
mechanical contrivances, which he subsequently introduced with the
greatest advantage into his own spinning-machinery.]
Another department of mechanical art, which has been enriched by this
invention, has been that of _tools_. The great variety of new forms which
it was necessary to produce, created the necessity of contriving and
constructing a vast number of novel and most valuable tools, by which,
with the aid of the lathe, and that alone, the required forms could be
given to the different parts of the machinery with all the requisite
accuracy.
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