Lord Armstrong. 221 



many difficulties necessarily met with in works newly started and 

 engaged in a novel manufacture. With the single exception of Mr. 

 Cruddas, whose son is a director of the present company, the names 

 of Lord Armstrong's early friends and partners have long since dis- 

 appeared from the firm. 



The early cranes and other hydraulic machinery were at first worked 

 by water from a natural head, but, as the demand for hydraulic 

 machinery increased, the Elswick Works were asked to supply cranes, 

 etc., for situations where sufficient natural pressure was not obtainable. 

 This led Lord Armstrong to devise his accumulator, consisting of a 

 cylinder, of dimensions varying with the amount of work required to 

 be done, into which was pumped water, raising a load usually adjusted 

 to give to the water in the cylinder and pipes a pressure of from 700 

 to 800 Ibs. on the square inch. This invention had the advantage of 

 allowing the system to be employed in any situation, and had also the 

 advantage of being nearly free from the fluctuations of pressure so 

 common in water pipes. Much smaller pipes also could be employed. 

 I . . It would be out of place here to describe the innumerable applica- 

 tions of water power which have resulted from Lord Armstrong's 

 labours. Hydraulic power has been found especially useful, where 

 power is required intermittently and for short periods of time, and 

 further has the advantage of transmitting, with little loss, power to 

 considerable distances. 



Elswick was busy with hydraulic work when its founder entered 

 upon a new field. The Battle of Inkerman was fought on 

 November 5, 1854. The result of the day was greatly influenced 

 by the action of Colonel, now General, Sir Collingwood Dickson, 

 V.C., G.C.B., who by incredible exertion dragged two 18-pounders up 

 a hill where their superior range and power proved of great value. 

 The incident attracted Lord Armstrong's attention, and led him to 

 consider whether these heavy and clumsy pieces could not be replaced 

 by guns much lighter, but with equal or greater power and equal or 

 greater range. In December, 1854, he had an interview with the 

 Duke of Newcastle, the first Secretary of State for War, who authorised 

 him to submit for trial guns of different calibres, but not exceeding 

 six in number. 



The first gun on his system submitted was a 3-pounder, weighing 

 5 cwts., and was a breechloader rifled on the poly groove system. The 

 breech action consisted of a movable vent-piece, which dropped into 

 a slot in the gun and was screwed firmly into place. Obturation was 

 secured pretty effectively by copper rings in the front of the vent- 

 piece and in the barrel. The very early small guns had steel barrels 

 reinforced with coiled iron hoops, a construction which was adopted 

 shortly afterwards and for a very considerable time remained that of 

 the Service. 



