Surprisingly long ago.Henry Maudslay 1771-1831 Invented a bench micrometer capable of measuring 1/1000th of an Inch.He nicknamed it the Lord Chancellor (Arbiter of all disputes)Also worked on numerous machine tools. The family were in business for years. I started my apprenticeship with the Maudslay Motor Company in 1970.See Wikpedia for more details ( Maudslay, not my apprenticeship!!!)

Hugh Lomas,
H.G.Lomas Gunmakers Inc.
920 876 3745