William Murdoch? Joseph seemed to have heard this name before, but he couldn’t recall who it was at the moment, figuring it must be some capable British technician.
Since the man had come all the way to France, Joseph felt obliged to extend his welcome, “I am very welcoming to you, Mr. Murdoch. I am very much looking forward to your showcasing your skills in France’s steam engine project.”
Seeing that Dupont had only brought Murdoch with him, Joseph sensed that things might not go smoothly.
He asked the two men to sit down and looked anxiously at Dupont, “What does Mr. Watt say?”
Embarrassment crept over the latter’s face as he began with some difficulty, “Your Highness, I am sorry, I failed to fulfill your important trust. Mr. Watt has rejected my invitation.”
Although Joseph was mentally prepared, he still frowned upon hearing this, “Is he dissatisfied with our conditions?”
“No, Your Highness, in fact, he didn’t care about the conditions…”
After Dupont briefly explained Watt’s situation, Joseph sighed, “Mr. Dupont, you have done your best, there is no need for self-reproach. I will think of other ways.”
Joseph appeared very nonchalant, but in fact, he began to worry.
He knew very well that to establish a steam engine industry chain in the shortest time, Watt was absolutely crucial!
Joseph did not hold the arrogance to think that he could handle the entire industry chain on his own. Although his mind was filled with numerous advanced principles of steam engine technology, it was still a long way from those principles becoming tangible, functional machines—after all, he had never actually constructed one by hand.
Not to mention the difficulty of translating principles into real machines, even if he had the blueprints for a new type of steam engine, he simply couldn’t build it.
From the choice of material for the boiler to the specific casting processes. From how to polish the piston walls to the proportion of tolerances reserved. From the cross-sectional shape of the crank to the viscosity of the lubricating oil at the joints…
To make a steam engine, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of these craft details to consider, and if any one of them is not up to standard, the result is a machine that either constantly malfunctions or delivers low power.
If it were up to Joseph to lead people in tackling the technology, it would probably take three to five years to solve, but France could not wait that long, and he couldn’t possibly devote all his energy to the steam engine.
Watt, however, possessed the technology and experience needed to make a steam engine at that time. He was familiar with every part of a steam engine, knew how they should be manufactured, as well as which tools and materials would be needed for these parts.
With him, it was possible to quickly establish a foundational production line for steam engines in France.
However, Watt seemed destined not to be involved with France, so all technological craftsmanship would only be figured out slowly by France’s own technicians.
No one knew how long this process would take…
Joseph shook his head inwardly, pondering which French technicians were worth cultivating, when he saw Murdoch carefully shifting forward in his seat, nervously saying, “That, Crown Prince, Mr. Dupont told me that you intend to establish a factory to produce steam engines?”
“Indeed, that is the case.”
“Well, I think perhaps I can be of help.”
“Oh? Are you well-acquainted with making steam engines?”
Murdoch puffed out his chest, radiating confidence, “Your Highness, if you think Mr. Watt is capable, then I most certainly am. Let’s put it this way, I can do pretty much everything he can. Plus, I have my own patents.”
Joseph looked at the middle-aged man before him with some surprise, “Are you serious?”
Mr. Dupont hurriedly interjected, “Your Highness, I have verified it, Mr. Murdoch does indeed have a patent for an oscillating steam engine and a steam gun in England.”
It was because of these two patents that Dupont decided to bring him to meet the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, perhaps you have heard about the ‘planetary gear mechanism’ of the steam engine.” Murdoch’s tone carried a note of grievance, “In fact, I invented this technology. It is only because I worked at Mr. Watt’s company that, according to the initial work agreement, this patent was registered under his name.” Read today on m,v,l,e,mpyr
Planetary gear? Joseph narrowed his eyes at the mention, seeming to recall something.
Thinking Murdoch didn’t believe him, Murdoch’s voice rose a few notches, “Your Highness, if you wish, I can describe in detail the conceptual process of this technology.
“Oh, and by the way, I’ve also invented a new high-pressure steam engine technology…”
He continued, then sounded deflated, “But Mr. Watt was afraid that the high-powered high-pressure steam engine would affect the sales of the company’s existing products, so he wouldn’t allow me to publish it, and thus I was unable to apply for a patent.”
Joseph repeated to himself ‘planetary gear’ and ‘high-pressure steam engine,’ suddenly recalling something and spontaneously exclaimed, “Mr. Murdoch, are you also the one who invented a gas lamp?”
“Gas lamp?” Murdoch looked very surprised, “I do have a scheme for producing gas from coal, but it’s not yet perfected… Do you know Mr. Cumnock? I’ve only mentioned this matter to him.”
Of course, Joseph did not know any Mr. Cumnock, but he was already certain of Murdoch’s identity—the renowned Scottish inventor, holding multiple patents regarding steam engines, especially the high-pressure steam engine, yet later generations would remember him only for inventing the gas lamp.
More than a decade later, it would light up the entire London, becoming a symbol of British civilisation—the gas street lamp!
Seeing the Crown Prince’s apparent interest in him, Murdoch hurriedly continued, “Your Highness, you might not believe it, but many of Mr. Watt’s patents have contributions from me, and some of them were entirely my inventions.