Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-07-25
To the Honorable Board Of Directors OF
the Belmont County Agricultural So

4
SIPS Your committee to whom
was assigned the duty of examining
and reporting upon the merits Of Now
ing Machines, at the field trial held
July 9Th, 1872, would report that they
have performed that duty according to
the best of their skill and ability, under
the IN favorable circumstances by which
they were surrounded.
The ground selected for the trial was
Ihilly and uneven, in some parts steep;
with some stumps and sudden inequal-
tiles ofsurface giving a fair opportuni-
~ of testing the ability of machines to
follow an uneven surface and pass OBJ
structions.
The grass, principally clover badly
down and tangled in places, and in
orher places mixed pretty strongly
with blue grass, was not such as to put
machines to the severest test, yet sufi-
cient fof ordinary purposes. 1t is great
ly regretted that no instrument was
provided for testing the actual draft of
the machines placed upon trial, and
that they might have been subjected
ito the severesf possible trial, because in
ordinary moving, they are so nearly
equal that it is barely possible to decide
between them, and here your commit
tee would remark that they are not re-
porting what these machines can do
but on what they did do.
Three machines were entered for
Ieompetition viz: "Acme," superior"
and s'Smith," all of them new candi-
dates for public favor. The Acme and
Superior having been introduced during
the harvest of 1871, the Smith in 1872,
and your com mmittee will only notice
the leading points of these Machines.
The Acme, built by Hobbs, Taylor
& Co., OF Wheeling, West Va, exhib-
tied by Mr.. Taylor is a strong and pow
erfuI Machine but almost entirely of
| east ir0n-extended adjustable bear
ings, gearing enclosed secure from dirt
or grit, changeable from fast to slow
cut whilst in motion, front cut AZ feet
wide and does most excellent work.
The Superior" manufactured by the
Superior Manufacturing Co., Wheeling,
West Va, and exhibited by Mr.. Thos.
tSweeney, a neat compact Machine,
perfect gem, almost noiseless when in
operation, solid cast iron frame, ez---
tended bearings, with a neat and per-
feet arrangement for changing the
height of cut whilst in motion and un-
der perfect control of drive;-frOnt cut
feet wide, gearing on new plan by
using screw instead Of a cog opinion,
thus obtaining full motion for the
knife by single complications prin.
eiple which if successful must revolu-
tionize the construction of machines of
this kind in future.
The ssSmithn, manufactured by the
Belmont Agricultural Works, Bellaire,
Ohio, and exhibited by G. L. Poorman,
ESQ.,, is light, strong and compact
machine, wrought iron frame made of
angle iron, securely clamped at corners
thus securing the greatest possible
strength with the least weight. Adjusted
bearings; rule joint in drag bar, Civ
| ing an easy rolling motion to finger
bar, enabling it to adjust itself to every
inequality of surface; spring shieve
on rear Of frame, carrying principal
weight of finger bar on the ground
wheels, thus greatly lessening friction
of the bar on the ground and decreas-
| ing the draft a rear cut Al feet wide.
These machines are all subjected to
the same tests, as nearly as could posi-
bly, be done by your committee, and
their working closely observed. Hard
ly a shade of difference could be OBJ
served. and their perfect balance and
freedom from side draft was demon
strated by removing the neck yoke
from each team and operating the ma
chine without support to The tongue.
AS regards the merits of simplicity,
durability and ightness, your commit
Zee are of the opinion that these are
possessed by the "Smith" machine,
and accordingly award to it the high
est merit.
Your committee would express the
hope that in future contests of this sort
the older machines will lay aside that
modesty which past victories have en-
shrouded them with, anc show them
selves able to retain their laurels.
Respectfully submitted,
VIM. Hardesty, Chmn.
Alex. Stitt.
TN. Nichol.
VIM. Hinkle.
VIM. Chambers, Sec'y,