I did not trust to reading about such things.

I saw, handled, and helped when I could; and all the ideas in connection with them became in all details, ever after, permanent in my mind,--to say nothing of the no small acquaintance obtained at the same time of the nature of workmen." In course of time, young Nasmyth, with the aid of his father's tools, could do little jobs for himself.

He made steels for tinder-boxes, which he sold to his schoolfellows.

He made model steam-engines, and sectional models, for use at popular lectures and in schools; and by selling such models, he raised sufficient money to enable him to attend the lectures on Natural Philosophy and Chemistry at the Edinburgh University.

Among his works at that time, was a working model of a steam carriage for use on common roads.