Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-12

Moving Machines.

movement than any other. IlllerS- OF
the soil seem less disposed than any 9th
er class to adopt new inventions and i'm
provements in labor saving machinery,
and this has not encouraged mechanics
and inventors to exercise their skill in
that direction. In many of the Eastern
countries the rude and simple imple-
ments of husbandry used in times long
gone by, are still used. In this country
we have advanced in improvements in
farming utensils, yet even here agricul-
turists seem disposed to. resist all i'm
provement, and only adopt new imple-
ments when they are compelled to.
The moving machine, which is now
everywhere used in this country, has
an interesting history. 1t is claimed
that the first successful reaping and
moving machine had its origin in this
country. 1t is true that machines were
first constructed in England, tried and
proved to be valueless. 1t seems to be
now generally conceded that Obed Hus-
sey invented the first machine that prov
ed successful. He obtained his patent
in 1888, forty years ago. Several years
after this, when others had brought out
machines, Mr. Hussey claimed that they
were mere copies of his, and doubtless
they were to a great extent. He I'M
doubleday first discovered the leading
principles for successful reaping and.
moving machine, and yet his machine
was far from being perfect. Subse-
quent inventions, as they are claimed by
patentees, may, at least many of them,
be dignified as improvements. Certain it
is that there has been constant progress
in improvement in mowers, and it is rea-
sonable to expect still more improve
ment.
The leading object of inventors at
first seems to have been the produc-
ton of reapers. With the, large crops
of wheat west, there was a great ankle
ty to produce some implement that
would cut the grain more rapidly than
the time-h0nored sickle The early ma
chimes, though constructed for use both
as reapers and mowers, were for many
years little used except as reapers. In
deed, it was many years after the reap
ing successfully began, before machine
was so perfected as to operate satisfac-
torily in the cutting of grass.
If we mistake not, the date of using
the first moving machine in Vermont
will not go back over twenty years: In
this the writer may be mistaken, but in
one thing he is not. 1t is less than ten
years since they came into general use
| in the State. We well remember
certain intelligent and well-to-do
farmer, and what he said of NOW
ing machines, just eleven years ago. He
was solicited by an agent TO purchase a
moving machine. He Indignantly re
| fused and ridiculed the idea that now
| ing machines could be used with any
success in Vermont. He has since,
however, changed his mind and for half
a dozen years, or Whereabouts, the NOW
er has cut his grass. 1t is now too late
for any farmer to repudiate the moving
machine, and no one of sense now pre-
tends to do it. They have been carried
to that degree of perfection that they
are used on rough and stony ground,
indeed anywhere and in any place where
the farmer is willing to ride or drive.
For the last half dozen years large
number of moving machines have been
manufactured in the United States, and
this argues well for the farming interest
and for, the general prosperity of the
country. In the making of these ma
chimes, as in other enterprises, especial
| ly those following successful inventions,
| there has been much of humbug. Men
have. constructed machines that are val
ueless, sold them and got the peoples
money. But there are reliable estab-
| lishments from which farmer can pro-
cure moving machine, and know that
he gets a good one or his money will be
refunded The leading machines now
used are the Mccormick, the Buckeye,
the Wood, and the Clipper, and some
| few others, the names of which have
escaped. The mandatory nearest this
locality, is that of Walter A. Wood, at
| Hoosick Falls, n. Y. The writer is not
| sufficiently acquainted with the different
| machines to give an opinion as to their
| comparative merits. One farmer tells
us that the Wood machine is preferable
TO any other, and perhaps the next far
mer yOu-meet will express asimilar opin-
ion as to- the Buckeyes. 1t is probable
that there are now from six to dozen
| machines among the several hundred
| that have been invented which are. val
liable. Of these the farmer must make
| his own choice.
The Wood mandatory was estab-
lished in. 1853 In that year 500 ma
chimes were made. Every subsequent
year there has been an increase. In the
| year 1872, 1903 were made by that
concern. This is noted, simply to show
| the increase, the progress in this newly
| developed feature in the worlds indus
try. There are a few other moving
machine manufactures that could per-
haps make equally as good showing, and
for aught the writer knows, still larger
sales. 1t is true that the value of ma
chine depends upon its merits-its real
worth when brought into use, not on
the place aohere it is made, but it is quite
| certain that no establishment can live
long in the manufacture of machines,
unless the farmers find them Of sufficient
value to.purchasc and use of course
concern manufacturing poor machines
will not long be patronized. 1t is then
the safer course for the farmer who is
not sufficiently acquainted with the diff
ferent machines to purchase of we'll.
known reliable establishment, and
| whose machines he knows are in good
demand.
Within the last few years Vermont