| Show A curious start in life A correspondent writes to the family herald and weekly star from macleod N W T as follows A slip of your paper 1 I am unable to give the date recently f tell ell into my hands in which was an account of an unique hat constructed entirely of corn com in this connection the following may not be deemed altogether inappropriate in the early days of the soho works birmingham eng a workman called on boulton watt requesting to see matthew boulton Bou iton from whom he unsuccessfully solicited employment As he was turning away boalton Bou iton who was a very sharp sighted man where anything mechanical was about called him back and asking him whence he procured his hat was told he had made it himself what is it made of wood how did you make it turned it in a lathe replied the man but man said boulton Bou iton that thing is round you could not turn that in a lathe he had hit upon the expedient now well enough known of causing the lathe spindle to rise and lall fall once for every revolution it made as is done today in the invention L known as the elliptical chuck this man was murdoch who becer be cajner the manager of the works and who was instrumental above all other men 1 in n giving to the soho works the proud position it for so many years enjoyed among mechanics in an another oilier place you mention as a modern modem invention a fall down lazy mans bedstead actuated by the alarum of a clock this was exhibited at a workmans work mans exhibition held at the I isbeth baths london england in the year 1864 or 1865 |
