Taken from the "English Mechanic and World of Science" Vol. 33, London, 1881
[18486.]—I have only just had my attention drawn to 'F. B. A. S. a" and other correspondents' remarks on the Wealemefna in the English Mechanic of Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14, and 21, 1879.
After making the drawings for the special machinery, and also the fixtures for the interchangeable manufacture of the Martini-Henri at the Birmingham Small Arms Company, I established works for the manufacture of my patents on the same principle—the interchangeable system. I brought out the " chartometer," and found that merely because the derivation of that word, from рта and ˇiirpoc was at once apparent, people fancied they were familiar with that name, and professed to have seеп it before, and I determined that the origin of the next name I gave an invention should—to prevent a repetition of that annoyance—be somewhat obscure.
With the exception of a firm of Jews who coupled their pretensions to be sole licensees with the announcement that the word was Danish, and invented by themselves, the name seems to have completely fulfilled my intention, and the ingenious suggestions of the correspondents of the Еnglish Mechanic go no nearer to the derivation of the word than did Punch when making the Wealemefna the subject of a comic article.
However, by far the most ingenious explanations are those that have appeared in the English Mechanic, but the fact remains that the
Wealemefna is not derived from " "(world-rule-measure) nor from the anagrammatic transposition "a new female." Meanwhile it would be a pity to dispel a mystery—which U capable of being uitraveiled—as interesting to the public, apparently, as the solution.
The Wealemefna was selected by the Admiralty as ''the Hist prize for charts on board Н.М.Ь. Jíntaiiniíi " when the Prince of Wales's sons were being trained there.
I would note that the hands may bе always brought to zero from any position by not more than two blows on the periphery of the roller with the first finger—holding the instrument in the left hand—when the wheels and hands are so made аs to "spin" round.
At the works, all the pieces made by interchangeable machinery, without the use of afile, including all screws, hollow, and other spindles, wheels which work practically without backlash, the rollers which are hardened and sized to a fraction of a thousandth of an inch by special machines, and the cases. Skilled hand-labour (and filing) is, however, employed in the gold and silver work.
The manufacture of my instruments was at first undertaken by a firm of old standing, who, after much work, gave it up, as they concluded, and assured me, that the requirements were so peculiar to insure accuracy and no backlash, that it was impossible they could be brought out at a marketable price, as the most expensive skilled labour would be indispensable ; and they ridiculed my proposal to manufacture them on the interchangeable principle, and employ girls in the manufacture.
I may add, that to bring them out at the price at which they are now sold, cost me over L 1,000 and years of labour.
Ed. Buasell Morris, Assoc.M.InBt.C.E., M.Inst.M.E.
[Mr. Morris has invited our inspection of several forms of his ingenious little mysteriously-named measurer, and though it is late in the day to call attention to it—and probably unnecessary—we may just say that it is a most handy and accurate companion. Its inventor has recently brought out a miniature form of the instrument, which registers up to 10ft., and maу be carried in the waistcoat pocket, or worn as a watchguard-pendant.—Eu.j
