The invention was adopted and was found to save the labor of one workman.

Tom's next achievement was a machine to make tacks, on which he spent six years and the rights of which he sold for five thousand dollars.

It was worth far more, for it revolutionized the tack industry, but such a sum was to young Blanchard a great fortune.
The tack-making machine gave Blanchard a reputation, and he was presently sought out by a gun manufacturer, to see whether he could improve the lathe for turning the barrels of the guns.

Blanchard could; and did.

His next problem was to invent a lathe for turning the irregular wooden stocks.