John Barton
John Barton of Barton and Co
1816 Inventor and Patentee of flexible metal packing rings for pistons
1831 'To the Editor of the Morning Advertiser, No. 6, Goswell-road, Jan. 26, 1831.
Sir, I have no wish to prolong a controversy, through the medium of your columns, upon a subject which, however important it may be to many individuals, and indeed the public, is, I am aware, not likely to generally interesting to Newspaper readers.
But I cannot refrain from noticing the extraordinary letter, from Mr. M'Dowall, contained in your Journal of yesterday - extraordinary in every sense of the word — but I shall notice only a very few of its material points.
The hectoring tone which Mr. M'Dowall assumes will impose upon a few. When he charges me with having uttered "a falsehood," he does not attempt to prove the assertion. That he was in my employ is true, according to his own showing ; but he denies that he was unacquainted with Metallic Pistons before that time. His words are "I saw many them before I knew there was such person as Mr. Barton in existence. I never, Sir, contended to the contrary ; but there is a vast difference between seeing a piece of machinery, however simple, and understanding the principle on which it is made. I repeat that Mr. M'Dowall was ignorant of the principle of Metallic Pistons until he was in my employ.
He is also so unadvised as to say that "is the most defective he ever saw.” This is tolerable good evidence value of Mr. M‘Dowall’s judgment; with reference however, to this hardy declaration, I subjoin the following note from Mr. Braithwaite, the eminent Engineer:-
New-road, Sept. 8,
Dear Sir,- I have applied your Metallic Pistons to our Locomotive Engine with very great advantage, and from what experience has proved, I intend to use them in all engines I shall hereafter construct. I beg to add, the Pistons in the engine fitted by me in the Victory Discovery ship, of Captain Ross, were upon your principle, and worked with pressure of 90lbs. per square inch above the atmosphere, and were perfectly tight.
Remaining truly yours, “JOHN BRAITHWAITE, Engineer.
“ To Mr. Barton.”
Mr. M'Dowall has studiously avoided noticing the extract quoted in my former letter from the “ Transactions of the Society of Arts.” So much for his fairness.
The comparison between the mouse and the hippopotamus may be very apt, if he will consent to be the former, and allow me be the latter. I suspect the comparative ratio of merit will be in about the same proportion as the respective dimensions of the two animals named.
He adduces an amusing proof that my piston is not the best that has been yet introduced ; namely, that it has been in use twelve years ! Why, the length of time it has been in requisition I should humbly conceive is the best test of its superiority. At this moment I am receiving orders for my Piston from persons who will not use Mr. M'Dowall’s, although he is willing to supply his at price greatly inferior to the charge for mine.
The only other part of his letter which calls for remark is the following :— " I had occasion to procure one of Barton’s pistons for gentleman in this quarter, which has proved so most shockingly bad that he compelled me to take it back, and substitute one on my principle in its place.” The gentleman alluded to is, I believe, some relation to Mr. M'Dowall’s, and my piston was recommended to him by the latter person. Now, it is rather surprising that Mr. M‘Dowall should have supplied his friend with a piston "the most defective he ever saw." I draw a veil over some part of the transaction for the sake of Mr. M'Dowall himself. He will understand what I mean. It is sufficient to say, that when the gentleman to whom my piston was supplied was in town, some months afterwards, he spoke of the manner in which it worked in the highest terms.
I repret that I have been under the necessity of giving you so much trouble, but I shall take no further notice, under any circumstances, of Mr. M'Dowall, in future.
I am, Sir, your obliged humble servant,
JOHN BARTON.'[1]
Note: M'Dowall was John McDowall of Manchester[2]