The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-08-31
The Douglas Hay Loader

Inc DOuBldS nay bohuer'
We recently had the pleasure Of wit
Messing the operation of machine quite
novel to US Hay Loader, the invention
of N. b. Douglas, Esq, of Cornwall.
The machine was in use on the fiat near
Salisbury depot. The ground was rough
and the hay heavy, but the huge wind
rows were gathered up and deposited on
the load quietly and clearly. The ma
chine is in itself "A marvel Of ingenuity
and simplicity, but in operation its capac-
city and perfection are wonderful indeed.
1t must take rank with mowers and horse
rakes, and like them he indispensable to
the farmer.
We select from our exchanges and from
other sources, few notices of the ma
chine, which show conclusively that we
are not alone in our appreciation of its
merits. The Hon. Simon Brown, veteran
editor of the New England Farmer, says
of it.
ITO the valuable machines which have
named, there has been added another
which have taken especial pains to see
in operation it is for loading the hay by
horsepower, after it is sufficiently dry and
thrown into windrow. | have seen it in
use at three different times, and on une-
ven as well as even ground, and every
where it did the work quickly and well.
At one of my visits to see it, the first
load was put on in dgM minutes, the Sec
ond in screen and a haif minutes and the
third in ~,en minutes This was done by
the steady, usual working of the machine,
and without any effort to do the work in
short time. The bystanders estimated
the loads at 1900 pounds each the wag-
on, being short one, would not convent
emily take any more. The men using it
stated than on previous occasion they
loaded and unloaded eighteen loaciS in s,r
aadu hdif hours, all the loads but the last
one being placed upon stacks in the
field.
The loader is attached to the hind end
of the wagon; stands perpendicularly is
eight feet long and four feet wide. 1t
has eight leather belts, each two inches
wide, which pass over rollers at the TOP
ond cylinder at the bottom. There are
fifteen small spurs in each of these belts
which pick up the hay as the team ,strad.
ding the windrow, passes along, carrying
} it up and rafting it over upon the wagon
The whole of this weighs but l75 pounds
1t can be attached or removed in less
than five minutes, and can be applied tC
any wagon. 1t makes no noise while be
ing operated, adapts itself to uneven sur
, faces, and is exceedingly simple in every
part Of its construction.
| had always imagined the hay loader
that | had read about as being heavy anC
cumbersome contrivances, hanging on t.
one side of the wagon, and requirin,
some human power to feed an endles
apron that was to carry the hay along t,
l the cart. When saw this small an,
= light contrivance, noiselessly picking u
the hay and conveying it to the wagon,
= came to the conclusion that device hat
g been reached which would complete tn
q circle of machines to be used in securing
the most important of all our crops-th
hay harvest.
This machine was invented, and ha
been mainly built by Mr.. NELSON B
DOUGLAS, Of Cornwall, Vt. He had
: in operation last year, and has had it i
: continual use the present season, in orde
to make such alterations--if needed-a
: would bring it as near perfection as pos
sible. Only about a dozen have bee
. built, and those in use are in the hand
e of farmers who are testing their merits
4 None have been offered for sale. In tn
: West, and wherever large amount {
9 hay is to be secured, this machine mus
. take rank with the mower, horse rak,
:, tedder and horse pitchfork.
= The "Amherst Record" says Of it:
IA AT A o'clock, p. NJ, on Friday, Nj
y Douglas of Vermont, began to load ha
e into wagon by using his new Hay LOAF
h er, and although he experienced son
e difficulty in adapting his machine to OF
s. wagon, yet he at length succeeded, an
e the work was executed very admirably
1t gives promise of being very usefi
ihachihe, anu VIII propaDly De UNIVERSAL
4 used. .....
N The N. Y. Times says, in speaking
10 the machinery of the hay field, 'anoth,
~ useful machine has been added, by Ii
n ingenuity and enterprise of Mr.. N. j
" Douglas, of Cornwall, Vt. This is a mi
+, chine for loading hay, and promises to |
e of great practical benefit to the farme
!, = II combines simplicity in construction, eas
a adjustment, light weight, and is effecti,
!. in working"
= The Newark N j. Daily Journal say
after giving a description of the machin
e 1.-The advantages Of this machine consis
y first, in great saving Of labor, consiC
IN cradle item, when, as now, farmers al
paying from twenty five to fifty dollar