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


1 through. Above this cutter slides another long
plate, to the upper crank of the same length, and
secured in the same manner, but, instead of the
fine teeth used in the lower plate, these teeth are
long, say about one and half inch and about the
same distance apart They are to project in a line
sloped in opposite direction the grooves in the
cutter below; and their motion, in sliding back
wards and forwards is also contrary, thereby coli
Letting the stalks as they come in contact with
these teeth and force them 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
its edge and under, some distance, that the cut
ter will then work against them, and produce the
same effect.
'sMy claim is for the arrangement of the several
parts, 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 or with teeth,
either with stationary wires, or pieces above and
below and projecting before it, 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 cutter on the upper side, 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 a proper angle to said cutters; also the
method of securing them.''
From these extracts it is seen that at the time of
taking out this patent had the cutting apparatus
in the model constructed with a straight sickle,
having the angle of the teeth cut in the direction
plate of iron playing the sickle, having long
projecting teeth, an inch or more apart, standing
out the edge of the sickle, with similar angle
but counter to the teeth, which plate was attached
to another crank also counter to the first crank so
| that the sicke,and the plate vibrate in opposite
directions to each other the cutting only being
performed in one direction, when the plate with
the projecting teeth fingers collected and pressed
4 ,foIy IF a.
| severing them. This seemed to work well, and at
that time, for the reasons stated in the speciica-
| tons, was preferred. (Ths 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
ciih its crank, might be dispensed with, and sta
| tonary double fingers, supports to the cutting,
substituted, with the claim for the straight vibrat
ing blade, either with smooth or 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 drausht in this patent as well
as the g horses behind'' and which side draught
was first used, in the testimony taken.
Then the following are extracts from the patent of
1645: Ss
Sat the ends the width of 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, so that
the edge of the blade, though projecting over the
case inch, las at B !, fig 81 is firmly and auf-
hcenty 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 a common sickle, except that
their angle ia alternately reversed in spaces of II
inch, (more or less,) as at B 3, fig A, on an in
verified section the object of which is to equaiize
the cutting in both directions, as the blade yibrates
and more efectualiy to keep the blade free, from
choking by cutting itself clear of blades of wheat,
&C., in both directions. 49,
sFhe blade case is secured to the two projections
of the frame of the platform, C, at II Z, igs
/ and s. say three or four inches forward of the
rop of na a rod
between, at suitable distances apart, by two or
three iron bearers, e. shown in the cross section
fig 3, screwed fast to the front piece of the plat
form, &C. and so bent, downward as to let
straw or blades that may get in work out -
"The fngers>D, D, D, (27 in number, more or
less) made of bars of drought iron, (but might
be caxt0 about Inch square, end of which is
widened into shape resembling spear. These
fingers are made fast in the frame Of the platform
c, and extend forward above the blade, 80 that the
hinder angle I'd, figure 81 of the spear is just be-
hind the serrated edge, b. of the blade B, thereby
forming acute angle between the edge (b) Of
the blade and the shoulder Id of the spear by
which the grain is prevented from yielding to the
touch OF the blade (B) as it vbrates, and is held
fast, 30 that the cutting is insured; and that, too
dispensing with the under part of the finger, Gas
with the double bearer or finger, on which blades
grass, &c, are liable to lodge and choke the ma
chine The fingers are intended to fit pretty close
to the edge OF the blade and to be bent up little
from the back, to prevent choking, as at B |, B 3
fig. 3. The blade may either act on a level with
the upper surface of the PLATFORM or below it, as
at present constructed.
81 claim, 1st, the curved Cor angled downward
for the purpose described) bearer, for supporting
the blade in the manner described. ,s
ss2d. claim the reversed angle of the teeth of
the blade In the manner described. ti r /
ss3d. i claim the arrangement and construction
of.the fingers Cor 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
bratlng 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 one side of the fingers
as the other, and the straight vibrating blade is
claimed, whether without teeth at all, tuh teeth
Of any description. And from the various improve
ments in thecutting apparatus claimed in the pa
tentef 1S45, with the objects for which they were
made, as stated IN the specifications, it is quite
clear that much was required, and 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 petit
ton for the extension, from which Seymour and
Morgan undertake TO quote; that in 1884 all parts
OF the machine were imperfect, matter ofcourse
while the operation was quite successful in favor
able situations.
| AT that time the perfection of the operation was
far from being exclusively dependent upon the re-
versed cut sickle For in l545 there is the blade
case, the curved bearers, the fingers, and the re-
Yersed slckle-all described as important.
The following, now, is what is said of this sickle
improvement in the petition of 1913, referred 10.
81 was not sufficiently satisfied of its being
useful machine to patent the reaper until the
year 1884, its 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
ofexperiments, and often, perhaps generally, the
result ofbut one experiment for the same object
could be fully tested in one harvest. The cntting,
indeed, proved not to be sufficiently certain to be
relied in all situations, until invented the inn
provement in the fingers, Cor support to the cut
ting,) and reversed the angle to the teeth of the
! sickle, as described and patented January 81,
/ l845, in connexion with the improvement in the
4 tbearers'-which Improvement, dispensing with
the under part of the fingers (under the sicke,)
which blades, grass, &C., were liable to hang and
| choke the machine. simplifed it, perfected the
cutting apparatus, - - = a1sl* z which
one, and the one engaged at the exhibition, were
tne only reapers disposed of for the harvest of
lo40, and they failed to operate ,reH. The teeth of
4 the sickes were made eoarser than they had been,
and all cut in direction as they were plaving
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.
i .s.* X = = s I then nut a neuy s;c 10