I was quite unable to make any white metal alloy hard enough to be made into powder by my machinery.

The ground for the factory having been chosen, and a long lease of the premises obtained, I had next to plan the necessary buildings.

I had an immense advantage over many others dealing with the problem in as much as I had no fixed ideas derived from long-established practice to control and bias my mind, and did not suffer from the general belief that whatever is, is right.

I had been working pretty hard up to the time of the trials of the cane press, and felt that I was entitled to a little relaxation.

The new bronze caused quite a stir in the trade. The locality of its origin and its mode of manufacture were kept a profound secret.

The ordinary bronze powder is, as before mentioned, made from an exceedingly thin leaf of beaten metal, resembling an ordinary leaf of gold.

Nevertheless, several of my friends have from time to time tried to induce me to write a concise account of my steel invention in my own quiet way.

My life at this time was pretty much one of hard work and steady attention to business, from which I could only snatch short intervals.

In such a case secrecy must be absolute to be effective, and although mere vague curiosity induced many persons of my intimate acquaintance to ask to be allowed to just go in and have a peep, I never admitted anyone.

At this period the enthusiasm of the amateur was fast giving way to a more steady commercial instinct, and I let no opportunity slip of improving my position, but I felt that I was still labouring under the disadvantage of not having acquired some technical profession.