Michael Menzies
of Edinburgh
The earliest designs of the thrasher of which there is record is namely, the machines of Michael Menzies and Jethro Tull, built in 1770 (sic), sought to imitate as closely as possible the action of the flail.[1]
1709-1766: Advocate and inventor of agricultural and mining machinery [2]
1732 Invented a machine for threshing grain[3]
1750 'A grant passed the great seal, Feb. 12. to Michael Menzies, Esq; of a machine newly invented by him, for carrying and raising of coals, culm, &c. from the coal or culm walls to the bottom of the pit, and from the mouth of the pit to heaps.' [4]
1753 'We hear from Charters-haugh, in the County of Durham, near Chester le Street, a Colliery belonging to William Peareth, Esq. ; there is a MACHINE now going, and hath been for some Time past, by which the Coals are drawn up not by the Strength of Horses, or of Men ; but by the Descent of a Bucket full of Water, of a Weight superior to that of the Coals drawn up: It draws up the Corf or Basket of Coals of above six hundred Pound Weight, out of a Pit fifty Fathoms deep in two Minutes. The same Hands who attend a common Horse Gin for drawing up Coals, are sufficient to attend this Machine, with this Difference, that in the Place of two Boys who drive the Horses, one Man serves to conduct the Machine, by the Help of which he does the Work of three Shifts of Horses, of two Horses each. The Water let down for drawing up the Coals in this Colliery, is raised and discharged by the Fire Engine, which was on the Colliery before the Erection of this Machine ; but where there is a Level, there is no need to raise it again. The particular Advantage of this Machine in this Work is, that as the same Weight of Water is drawn up at far less Expence by a Fire Engine, than by Horses ; so the Water which draws up the Coals is raised again by far less Expence, than the Coals would have been by Horses. The Machine is extremely simple ; and it is not only useful for Colleries, but for Mines of Lead, or other Metals, whether the Weight to be drawn up is out of one deep Pit, or out of several Pits or Sumps at a Distance from one another ; and the one higher than the other: But is most useful at these Colleries and Mines where they can have Water at the Top of the Pits, and have a level at bottom. This is the Machine invented by MICHAEL MENZIES, Esq.; and for which he lately obtained an Act of Parliament, to secure the Property of it to himself. He is at present in Newcastle upon Tyne, to whom any who want the Use of this Machine, may apply either in Person or by Letter.' [5]
1766: Death notice: '13th Dec, at Edinburgh, of Mr Michael Menzies, Advocate.'[6]