The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-03
Vol. W.

1 through. Above this cutter slides another lone
plate, to the upper crank of the same length ane
secured in the same manner, but, instead of the
fine teeth used in the lower plate, these teeth arr
long, say about and half inch, and about the
same distance apart They are to project in line
soped in opposite direction to the grooves in ths
cutter below; and their motion, in sliding back.
Ewards and forwards is also contrary, thereby col
Letting the stalks as they come in contact with
these teeth and force them across The teeth in the
cutter below, thereby greatly assisting in the aci
of cutting them through. The crank working this
blade may be dispensed with in some cases, and
the teeth made fast above the cutter and bent
it's edge and under, some distance, 30 that the cut
ter will then work against them, and produce the
same effect.
"My claim is for the arrangement of the several
parts, 30 as to constitute the described ma
chine; and particularly claim the method of cut
ting by means of vibrating blade, operated by a
crank, having the edge either smooth with teeth,
either with stationary wires, or pieces above and
below and projecting before 1t, for the purpose Of
staying or supporting the grain whilst cutting, or
using double crank, and another blade vibrat-
ing barr above described having projections be-
fore the blade or cutter on the upper eide. both
working in contrary directions thereby lessening
the friction and liability to wear by dividing the
motion necessary for one between the two, and inn
proving the principle of cuttings by gathering and
| holding the grain to the cutter, the projections
standing at proper angle to said cutter; also the
method of securing them.''
From these extracts it s that at the time of
taking out this patent had the cutting apparatus
| in the model constructed with straight sickle,
having the angle of the teeth cut in the direction
TO the right, attached to crank, in connexion with
plate of iron playing over the SICKLE having long
projecting teeth, an inch or more apart standing
out over the edge of the sickle, with similar angle
but counter TO the teeth, which plate attached
to another crank also counter TO the first crank so
/ that the sickle and the plate vbrate in opposite
directions TO each other. the cutting only being
/ performed in one direction, when the plate with
the projecting teeth or fingers collected and pressed
the stalks of grain against the edge of the sickle,
| severing them. This seemed to work well, and at
that time, for the reasons stated in the specifca-
tons, was preferred. This part of the patent
| Seymour Morgan thought proper to omit alto
gether In their quotations from it) But it was at
the same time stated and claimed that the plate,
scih its crank, might be dispensed with, and sta
tonary double fingers, or supports to the cutting,
substituted, with the claim for the straight vibrat
ing blade, either with smooth serrated edge;
and there this patent ESQ far the cutting is
cerned) stops: 1t may be remarked here, too that
Seymour & Morgan also omitted to notice the de
scrption of the side draught in this patent, as well
as the g horses behtad,'' and which side draught
was hrst used, as seen in the testimony taken.
Then the following are extracts from the patent of
1915: sgases5f
SAT the ends the width the blade, B, is extended
in front, as at 4, 4, figs. 4, 5, say to Il inch,
being twice its width at the cutting part, that
the edge Of the blade, though projecting over the
case inch, las at l, fig. 3d. ia firmly and suf-
hcienty supported by the ends, and prevented from
a tendency to wear and turn down from the pres
sure of the. cutting The teeth of the blade are
similar to those of common sickle, except that
their angle is alternately reversed in spaces of Il
inch, (more or less,) as at B 3, fig. a, an in
verted sections the object OF which is to equalize
the cutting in both directions, the blade yibrates
and more efectuaiy to keep the blade free from
chokinE by cutting itself clear of blades of wheat,
&C., in both directions. -
sfhe blade case is secured to the two projections
of the frame OF the platform, G, at 7, T. 7, Z, fgs
/ and 5, say three or four inches forward of the
front piece, c, of said platform; and it is supported
between, at suitable distances apart, by two or
three iron bearers, e. shown in the section,
hg. 3, screwed fast to the front piece of the plat
form, Co and so bent, downward as to let
straw or blades that may get in work out.
'The tnssrsp, D, d, (27 in number, more or
less are made of bars of drought iron, (but might
be cdst,) about s-lnch square, one end of which is
widened into shape resembling spear. The5e
fingers are made fast in the frame of the platform
c, and extend forward above the blade, that the
hinder angle ID figure s. of the spear is lust be-
hind the serrated edge, b, of the blade B, thereby
forming an acute angle between the edge (b) of
the blade and the shoulder (d) of the spear by
which the grain is prevented from yielding to the
touch of the blade (B) it vibrates, and is held
fast, that the cutting is nsured; and that, too,
dispensing with the under part of the finger, Gas
with the double bearer finger, , on which blades,
grass, &C., are liable to lodge and choke the ma
chine. The fingers intended to fit pretty close
to the edge of the blade, and to be bent up a little
from the back, to prevent choking, as at /, B 2,
fig. 3. The blade may either act on level with
NJ 8
at present constructed.
81 claim, Let, the curved Cor angIed downward
for the purpose described) bearer, for supporting
the blade in the manner described.
"2d. i claim the reversed angle of the teeth of
the blade in the manner described.
"3d. i claim the arrangement and construction
of.the fingers Tor teeth for supporting the grain
80 as to form the angular spaces in front of the
blade, and, for the purpose, described"
Now it has been observed, that in the frat patent
two methods OF cutting are described: first, the
double action, by which the angles of the two vi
brating blades are necessarily reversed to each
other. The other, and which was first used is with
fixed fingers or supports TO the cutting, standing
out at right angles to the blade, by which the cut
ting can as well be done on side of the fingers
as the other, and the straight vibrating blade is
claimed, whether without teeth at ALL or aciM teeth
Of any description. And from the various improve
ments in the cutting apparatus claimed in the pa
tentsof lS45 with the objects for which they
made, as stated in the specifications, it ia quite
clear that much was required, ard much difficulty
experienced in perfecting the cutting machinery
Of the Reaper from the short time for experiments,
&C., and this Is stated in another part of the pet
| ton for the extension, from which Seymour and
Morgan undertake quote; that in 1884 all parts
of the machine were imperfect, as matter ofcourse
while the operation was quite successful in favor
able situations.
At that time the perfection of the operation was
lar from being Exclusively dependent upon the re-
versed cut sickle For in I845 there is the blade
case, the curved bearers, the fin gers, and the re-
yersed sickle-all described as important.
The following, now, is what is said of this sickle
improvement in the petition of lS48, referred 10.
81 was not sufficiently satisfied of its being
susefuP machine to patent the reaper until the
year 1884, it's construction and proportions having
been imperfect, requiring much effort to make
them, whilst light, yet simple, strong, and dura-
BILE; and the cutting apparatus being defective on
account of liability to choke and get out of ORDER
all which, defects had to be corrected by series
of experiments, and often, perhaps generally, the
/ result of but experiment for the came object
could be fully tested in one harvest The cutting,
indeed, proved not to be sufficiently certain to be
relied IN all situations, until invented the inn
provement in the fingers, Ger support to the cut
ting,) and reversed the angle to the teeth of the
| sickle, as described and patented January 81,
/ l545, in connection with the improvement in the
'bearers'-which improvement, dispensing with
the under part of the fingers (under the SICKLE
which blades, grass, &C., were liable to hang and
choke the machine, simplified it, perfected the
cutting apparatus, y y = which
one, and the one engaged at the exhibition, were
the only reapegs disposed of for the harvest of
lS40, and they failed to operate ireU. The teeth of
/ the sickes were made coarser than they had been,
and all cut in one direction as they were PLAYING
in grooves in the fngers, the blades Of the wheat
were drawn into the grooves and so lod ged on the
underside of the fingers as to choke the machine,
especially in damp wheat.