Thomas Blanchard
Encyclopedia
Thomas Blanchard was an American
inventor who lived much of his life in Springfield, Massachusetts
, where in 1819, he pioneered the assembly line
style of mass production in America, and also invented the major technological innovation known as interchangeable parts
. Blanchard worked, for much of his career, with the Springfield Armory
. In 1825, Blanchard also invented America's first car, which he called a "horseless carriage," powered by steam. During Blanchard's lifetime, he was awarded over twenty-five patents for his creations.
. He had a fondness for mechanical employment, and was associated with his brother in the manufacture of tacks by hand. This process was exceedingly slow and tedious, and his first machine
, made and patented in 1806, was a mechanical tack-maker, which could fabricate five hundred tacks per minute, each much better than tacks made by hand. He sold the rights to his machine for $5,000.
that streamlined the process of their manufacture. Hired by the Springfield Armory
during its construction, Blanchard finished the machine in 1822. The machine turned
and finished gun barrels in a single operation; the octagon portion of the barrel was finished by changing the action of the lathe
to vibratory motion. This invention was afterward extended to the turning of all kinds of irregular forms.
He also developed a copying lathe that traced a model to turn gun stocks, producing the desired contour automatically (1818).
, and in 1831 created a powerful upriver steamboat that was used on the Connecticut River
and the West, both of which he invented and patented in Springfield, Massachusetts
. In 1851, he designed and created a machine that could bend dense and strong wood.
Blanchard also constructed machines for cutting and folding envelope
s at a single operation, and several mortising machines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor who lived much of his life in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, where in 1819, he pioneered the assembly line
Assembly line
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods...
style of mass production in America, and also invented the major technological innovation known as interchangeable parts
Interchangeable parts
Interchangeable parts are parts that are, for practical purposes, identical. They are made to specifications that ensure that they are so nearly identical that they will fit into any device of the same type. One such part can freely replace another, without any custom fitting...
. Blanchard worked, for much of his career, with the Springfield Armory
Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
. In 1825, Blanchard also invented America's first car, which he called a "horseless carriage," powered by steam. During Blanchard's lifetime, he was awarded over twenty-five patents for his creations.
Tacks
He was born in Sutton, MassachusettsSutton, Massachusetts
-Library:The Sutton Free Library was established in 1876. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Sutton spent 0.7% of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.-Education:...
. He had a fondness for mechanical employment, and was associated with his brother in the manufacture of tacks by hand. This process was exceedingly slow and tedious, and his first machine
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
, made and patented in 1806, was a mechanical tack-maker, which could fabricate five hundred tacks per minute, each much better than tacks made by hand. He sold the rights to his machine for $5,000.
Machine tools for gun making
Blanchard then turned his attention to gun barrels, and invented a machine toolMachine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
that streamlined the process of their manufacture. Hired by the Springfield Armory
Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
during its construction, Blanchard finished the machine in 1822. The machine turned
Turning
Turning is the process whereby a single point cutting tool is parallel to the surface. It can be done manually, in a traditional form of lathe, which frequently requires continuous supervision by the operator, or by using a computer controlled and automated lathe which does not. This type of...
and finished gun barrels in a single operation; the octagon portion of the barrel was finished by changing the action of the lathe
Lathe
A lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.Lathes are used in woodturning,...
to vibratory motion. This invention was afterward extended to the turning of all kinds of irregular forms.
He also developed a copying lathe that traced a model to turn gun stocks, producing the desired contour automatically (1818).
Steam transportation
Turning his attention to transportation, Blanchard invented a "steam wagon" before the introduction of railroads in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in 1831 created a powerful upriver steamboat that was used on the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and the West, both of which he invented and patented in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. In 1851, he designed and created a machine that could bend dense and strong wood.
Blanchard also constructed machines for cutting and folding envelope
Envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card....
s at a single operation, and several mortising machines.
Patents
- X0002080 Horizontal shearing machine May 4, 1813 (patent destroyed by fire)
- X0003010 Machine for tacks and brads October 3, 1817 (patent destroyed by fire)
- X0003131 Turning irregular forms (image only, no text) Patented September 6, 1819
- X0003436 Machine for turning gun stocks September 6, 1819 (patent destroyed by fire)
- X0004832 Regulating the speed of carriages December 28, 1825 (patent destroyed by fire) Machine for turning, &c., wooden sheaves and pins for ships' tackle-blocks and pulleys, dated August 1, 1836 Stock shaving or rounding machine for edges, ends, &c., of ships' tackle-blocks, dated August 10, 1836 Machine for mortising solid wooden shells of ships' tackle-blocks, dated August 10, 1836 Machine for forming end pieces of plank blocks for ships, &c. dated August 10, 1836 Machine for boring holes and cutting lanyard-scores in deadeyes. dated August 10, 1836 Machine for cutting scores round ships' tackle-blocks and dead-eyes. dated August 10, 1836 Method of riveting plank or made blocks. dated August 10, 1836