Nasmyth, James (1808-1890)

Scottish engineer and machine-tool manufacturer whose many inventions included the steam hammer 1839 for making large steel forgings. Nasmyth was born in Edinburgh and left school at the age of 12. As assistant to English toolmaker Henry Maudslay, he devised a flexible shaft of coiled spring steel for drilling holes in awkward places. After the death of Maudslay 1831, Nasmyth set up his own workshop, first in Edinburgh, then in Manchester, manufacturing machine tools, locomotives, and other machinery. His steam hammer was first used to make the propeller shaft for Isambard Kingdom Brunel's steamship Great Britain. Nasmyth devised many other tools, including a vertical cylinder-boring machine which speeded up the production of steam engines, and all manner of lateral, transverse, and rotating cutting machines.