THE COPYING OF AMERICAN MACHINERY 265 



hundreds, modelled on identical lines, are being made to-day 

 and offered for sale by British tool makers. 



Machines, too, for grinding tools, gauges, and the finest 

 class of work to precise dimensions, were developed in America 

 long before British firms took up their manufacture. The 

 wonderful precision of these machines is such that it is easy 

 to grind work on them definitely within a thousandth part 

 of an inch, and less, to actual measurement. The spindles 

 of many rotate at speeds ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 times 

 in a minute. In some specially fine machines they will 

 make 100,000 revolutions in a minute. And some of these 

 highest American types are not j^et copied here. When a 

 British shop is advanced enough in its ideas to require such 

 machines, the order goes to America. 



It would be easy to speak of other classes of work in 

 which America has led and Britain is toiling after. Mention 

 only may be made of the application of electricity to the 

 driving of machines; that of compressed air for actuating 

 drills, hammers, cranes, and much besides; of certain types 

 of hoisting machines which are quicker in action and more 

 adaptable than our own; of machines for foundry work, for 

 woodworking, for boot and shoe making, and much more. 



In conclusion, the question arises whether the British 

 imitation of American rivals will save the situation. Imi- 

 tation is the sincerest form of flattery, and yet this may not 

 prove to be an unmixed good. Possibly it may not be the 

 most excellent way in the end. 



British firms appear to believe that, by copying im- 

 proved machines, they will always be able to retain or re- 

 cover their menaced position. Those who do this — buying 

 a machine, pulling it to pieces, and imitating it — forget that 

 though it is easy enough to imitate, lost trade is not 

 regained in that way. Imitators generally fail. Britain's 

 supremacy was not won thus. She led the van. America 

 is not gaining ground by following Great Britain, but by 

 getting ahead of her. 



Further, if a firm, having found its business damaged 

 by the superior designs of a rival, endeavors to regain that 

 business, it becomes the proverbial stern chase. The problem, 



