The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-19
RespIng Machines.

On my arrival here from Chicago, / found, in
The Scfent,fc american, of the 23d ult, quoted
reaper was invented in Scotland twenty years ago,
and re invented by Mr.. Mccormick Scotchman,
in the United States, who introduced 1t to the
Worlds Fair"-with similar claims in relation to
Hobbs lock and the yacht America, together with
your contradiction Of that statement. except that
you do not deny the invention Of the reaper, as
claimed, in Scotland, although" as you properly
say, bearing Scotch name, Mr.. Mccormick is
native Of Virginia. and If he invented the reaper,
it was original with him." Sc.
have also observed, in foreign papers, similar
claims that the reaper was originally invented by
the Rev. Patrick Bell, of Scotland. one Of which
sent to this country in the year 1884 from which
the American reaper was probably copied. 1t Is
said, in article published in the Journal of Agr
culture, and the Transactions of the Highland and
Aericuls1al Society Of Scotland, by Mr.. Slight,
ing machines used in the Union are based upon
the same principle. which is the leading feature
tho cutter-in Bells"
In answer to an inquiry Of yours, over the sigma
ture of Geo X Fuller" of the State Of Ne York,
find letter in late number Of your paper be ar.
ing testimony. to '.the importation Of the SCOTCH
reaping machine. in the year 1884" its cost,
(s345 40) and 'the first trial of it's working powers,
the following year, made in the presence of the
Rev. Mr. Bell, the inventor" and others, "in tho
reapiDg Of . level field Of wheat. Of from two to
PLANTATION Of yours annexed. s'that O. Husssys
issa'" was pA'eh'ea $780, aoo n'o'Fm''f N
With no disposition to detrsct from the merits of
Mr. Bell, any other inventor, beg leave, through
your widely circulated and valuable Journal to make
the following further explanations in relation to
this matter, in order that your motto, "Honor to
whom honor is DUE may be fully carried QUIT
With regard to the origin Of my reaping machine,
Hon. Edmund Burke. ex. Commissioner Of Patents, in
letter addressed to Senators Douglas and Shields,
bearing date March 4th, 1850, says When both
of these patents were granted. tho Patent Office
1n -
and priority of invention but granted all patents
applied for, rs matter of course. Therefore,
it is no certain evidence that, because an al
legged inventor procured patent before his
It., in fact, was circumstance of very little
weight in its bearing upon the question Of pri-
ority between the parties. Besides. the testimony
of Mr. Mccormick. presented to the Board of Exten-
zion, clearly proved that he invented and put in
operation bis machine in 1881 two years before the
date of Hussey's pstent''-when, too, there was
more grain cut with my machine than with Mr..
Bells in 1855 as above stated Again, the follow
of the Senate Of the United States reported March
30, lS52-"Thst testimony was thereupon taken, in
compliance with the order of the Board; and by tho
proof submitted on the part of said Mccormick, it
appeared copclusvely that he invented his machine,
and FIRST practically and publicly tested its operation
in the harvest Of 1885," aud that. s'from the ex-
hibts referred to your committee, it appears that
his (Huyey's) machine was first constructed and
operated in 1881 (see exhibit ~ The evidence
here referred to was the sworn statement of Mr..
Hussey himself, as witness in another case.
Now. while 1t is true that, ut the time of tho
original invention of my reaper, and fer many
years thereafter, did not know (and had no means
Of knowingly or hear Of Mr.. Bells experiments in
reapiug by horse. power, the Lext and only remain
ing question is, whai reapiDg mschne did Mr. Bell
really invent, and what resemblance ia there be-
tween his machine and miue = whether Bells
was "the respiDg machine" instead of, as stated
by you, "McCormick's reaper, that gained tri-
umph at the Worlds Fair ~ IL so, as you have pro-
pery remarked. that this useful invention should
have been permitted to enjoy the Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep in the hands Of its inventor, until
brought for yard at the great exhibition Of all Ms
men ought to take shame to themsolvesp' But not
quite so for although, in trial made on the farm
Of Mr.. Watson, (of Scotland, interested with Mr..
Bell,) in the last harvest with Hussey's machine,
made and exhibited by Mr.. Croskill, the premium
was awarded to Mr.. Bell. it remains yet to be de.
mopstrsted that his is practically useful operating
machine at ALA mere trial, made under favorable
circumstances, being not . sufficient test Of that
fact, ~ any one acquainted with reaping by ma
chinery must be aware of. Indeed, upon this point
the fact that Bells machine has, for moro than
twenty years, been used In the hands Of the in
ventor Tor his brother, a. is said) alone. and was
self worthy Of an exhibition at the worlds
Fair, so near his own door-would seem con-
elusive.
Finally, in short, the leading difference in the
principles OF Mr.. Bells machine and mine are. frst
Bells cuts with series Of shears (some IA inches
in lengthy whchto operate, require all tho accuracy
and exactness Of it, in the cutting edges Of shears
used for othef purposes, is generally understood
and which is not attainable in . reaping machine.
In my machine the cutting is done by the simplest
as well most effective and durable Of all cutting
edges for reaping-tbe sickle. In Mr.. Bells ma
chine, tho grain Is gathered by,a reel on moving
apron, or canvass designed to discharge IL regular
ly in swath, and which, il is not pretended, will
answer the purpose at oil in lodged grain. In miAe,
the grain is gathered by reel on an immovabls
platform, where it is collecsed into sheavss, and
then deposited At the side of the machine by man.
with rake, riding upon IT, Bells machine Is pro.
PEELED before tho horses while mine il drawn behind
them Thus twill be seen that my reaper. In its
plan and principles Of operation is essentially and
BY giving tho foregoing place in your journal,
you viii, trust, he doing NO more than, by your
readers will he considered due to tho subject whilst
you will oblige, very respectfully,