160 HENRY DEACON 



Foundry was the result. Nasmyth, although 

 quite a young man, had already won a name 

 by his skill, and for the excellence of his 

 workmanship. He was especially sought 

 after for the self-acting tools which he made. 

 The increasing business demanded a division 

 of labour, and a partner was selected, a young 

 man who had served his time with Messrs. 

 Yates and Cox, iron merchants, Liverpool, 

 Mr. Holbrook Gaskell. He introduced some 

 capital into the concern, and his business 

 capacity and training fitted him to take charge 

 of the counting-house. 



When J. Galloway and Sons failed, the 

 apprenticeship indentures of young Henry 

 Deacon were transferred to Messrs. Nasmyth 

 and Gaskell. He left London and settled at 

 Patricroft. It was about the time that 

 Nasmyth made the first drawing of his 

 celebrated steam hammer that Deacon 

 entered his employ. That drawing was a 

 testimony to the ability of the designer. It 

 was to forge an intermediate paddle shaft for 

 that leviathan, as she was then regarded, the 

 "Great Britain," that the steam hammer was 

 devised. The work needed was laid before 

 James Nasmyth, he took out his ' Scheme 

 Book " and therein he sketched his steam 



