The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-12
MACHINE MA.RVELs.
A NEW POWER pRINcrPLE.


AND POWER sAvED--THR GRANGER COM
BINED FARM ACCOMPLISHMENT, EFFEc-
TIvENFss AND ECONOMY sECURED-ALL ON
EXHIBITION AT 1873, SOUTH MERIDIAN
STRENGTHENING Is BELIEVING.
Some DAYS or weeks ago Mr.. Charles T..
Smith. of the firm of Rankin & Smith, OF
New York, was induced to stop in this city,
by the representations of leading residents,
and make arrangements for the introduction
of the new mechanical discoveries and in
vention of which that firm are the proprie-
tors. The centripetal application of power
and the machines used have become pretty
we'll known in the East, but until now have
been presented to the West only In written
descriptions. Mr.. John Rankin has been
some DAYS in the city, and Mr. smith Is
expected Immediately. On yesterday AFTER
noon Mr.. Rankin put into practical opera
ton. for public inspection, mis- numerous
machines driven by the application OF the
new method of centripetal DO Ser The ex-
hibition was at the commodieus rooms at
1873 South Meridian street, where all persons
interested will have a fair opportunity from
day to day of inspecting for themselves, tnis
truly remarkable illustration OF scientinc
progress in the field of mechanics. The nrst
thing, 10 be spoken of, and which belongs to
the realm Of original discovery, Is the new
method in the
APPLICATION OF POWER.
The new discovery of what is termed the
centripetal power machinery does not relate
at all to the sources and production of pow
err. 1t uses the ordinary powers, animal,
gravity or steam, but its merit consists In
transmitting the power produced without
waste to the point where it is required for
use. In other words 1t avoids almost entlrely
- Oh nv friction which
versally attends high rates OF speed and
heavy power. It is familiar to all that the
grand obstacle which IS most expensive TO
overcome in mechanical operations is fric-
ton, osave the waste OF power In It's Trans
mission is the grand study OF all inventors
and the chief impeachment in the way of ma
chInerv. BY the peculiar application of the
new discovery, the highest speed known to
machinery can be obtained without increas-
ing the friction perceptibly. When to this
is added the customary auxiliary oil momen-
tum by the heavy fy-wheel, tne retarulhg
mower of friction entirely disappears, and
where the resistance is applied, the action is
maintained by the acquired momentum
That this is true was demonstrated yester-
day in saving seasoned white oak WOOD.
After the belt was thrown of the pulley, a
stick six inches by four was sawed OH twen-
ty-six times with the power of momentum
alone. showing that absolutely nothing APP
preciable was expended in the friction of the
machine by which il was applied. IL Is sale
to say that the proportion OF power lost In
the action ofthis machineis not greater than
THAT OF TOP
revolving on a delicate point upon marble
slab. Such statement is wonderful put an
examination will convince any one that it
is not very far fIom the truth, if indeed, it Is
at all inaccurate. Practically, 1t may be sta
ted that hand power and that which is applied
with perfect ease, will suffice to-
run a saw, cutting or ripping, a cider
mill. a small thresher. and any opera
ton which with ordinary machinery
would require an engine of several hores
power. A large thresher, when runs over
100 ordinary bundles of grain in seven min
utes. a foot cutter which will produce four
bushels per minute, and do it better than
ANYTHING known of the kind, planning
machine that would tax a ten or twelve
horse engine, each of these IS operated at
high speed by a single horse In the ordinary
tread floor, and still furnishing some power
to spare. In machine shop of
heavy work, the Lobdell Car Wheel
Company, of Wilmington, DEL, the centrip-
etal power is used, and saves half the coal.
But this great triumph in the use and saving
OF power is scarcely, more wonderful than
the improved machines to which it is ap-
IL.
the genius of Mr.. John Rankin. While the
power is alike applicable to all purposes,
Mr.. Rankin has devoted his attention chiefly
to the production of machinery for opera
tions required upon the farm. There are
two leading points worthy OF remark. one is
the superiority. of the work done, the other
the combination of so many machines so as
to save room, labor and first cost.
THE CHANGERS COMBINATION MACHINES
are production as opportune to the move
ments of farmers for cheaper machinery as
the discovery of mineral Goals was to the age
of machinery. There are twelve pro-
cesses provided for by the attachments
in the combination, which include
thresher, saving machine, feed cutter, root
and vegetable cutter, wood saw, corn shelter,
grist MILL or feed grinder, planer, fmoulding
machine and borer. Space will not permit
a description which will do justice to the
merits of these machines, both as to
speed and excellent performance. The
thresher is wonder, separating the grain
perfectly and delivering the straw, unbro
ken, in a condition to be Immediately re-
bound. Flax and rye straw for thatches are
uninjured by the operation of threshing,
and still greater point is that wheat by this
machine is not impaired for seed by the des-
truction of its germinal power as is the case
with the ordinary thresher. The cider mill
is unapproachsble, as is proved by its taking
the premium over all others at the New
England society. The feed cutter is equally
superior in speed and effectiveness. But
th&e machines must be seen and not de-
scribed The main point is yet to be told.
Machines are often good enough if one can
have them, hut the number that are required
to do what's demanded in first class farming
cost fortune, and not one man in hum
dred can achieve possession. These granger
In N ions ho Er.rl rco
money than an ordinary thresher costs, a
farmer may have all the attachments, and bet
ter still, he can take what he wants and add
as he desires at trifing expense. He may
have only thresher in the barn, or he may
add the straw cutter and cider mill, each sep
arately at the expense of few dollars. The
demand for this set of combined machines is
measured only by the number of farms, and
they come to the west at the proper time. The
carpenter is scarcely less Interested, as an