BRAMAH, JOSEPH English engineer and inventor, the son of a farmer, was born at Stainborough, York shire, on April 13, 1748. He worked as a cabinet-maker in Lon don, where he subsequently started business on his own account. His first patent for some improvements in the mechanism of water-closets was taken out in 1778. In 1784 he patented the lock known by his name, and in 1795 he invented the hydraulic press. For an important part of this, the collar which secured water-tightness between the plunger and the cylinder in which it worked, he was indebted to Henry Maudslay, one of his work men, who also helped him in designing machines for the manu facture of his locks. In 1806 he devised for the Bank of England a numerical printing machine, specially adapted for bank-notes. Other inventions of his included the beer-engine for drawing beer, machinery for making aerated waters, planing machines, and im provements in steam-engines and boilers and in paper-making machinery. In 1785 he suggested the possibility of screw propul sion for ships, and in 1802 the hydraulic transmission of power; and he constructed waterworks at Norwich in 1790 and 1793. He died in London on Dec. 9, 1814.