The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-13
Correspondence Of the Press:
TRIAL OF REApERs.


Noticing in the Cleveland Leader.
of August 4.h, a call signed by the
agent of the 'Russen" Reaper s. Now
er, for trial of Reapers to be had on
the Powers farm, on Friday August
7th, your correspondent was early on
the ground, being anxious to see what
new developments SO bold challenge
would bring out
The aRussell" and 'fKirbyp machines
were already in the field. The ''Buck-
eye Table Rake" soon made its appear
ance, and in very short space of time
was put together and reported ''ready
for business" The grain in which the
machines were to be tried was well
calculated to give them severe test,
being very heavy and badly lodged.
The three machines above named
started mat about the same time. but
from the first the Buckeye Table Rake
attracted much attention on account
of the novelty and simplicity of its
construction and the extremely neat
manner in which it did its work. 1t
differs from all the other machines
represented in this trial; in the import
ant respect that while they-the So
called Reel Rakes"- combine the
two operations of reeling the grain
upon the platform and of raking it
off at one motion-thereby sacrificing
efficiency and quality of work in both
operations-the Table Rake has sep
arate apparatus for each work, and
that the simplest and most effective
that can be conceived. The grain is
brought upon the platform by the
same square reel used by the dropper
striking into the grain in a line par
alIel with the cutter bar, instead of
obliquely, as is the case of Reel-Rake
machines; while the Rake is jointed
arm, turning upon pivot in the GEN.
ter of the platform, which. gathers the
grain by q straight sweep across the
platform and carries it around quar-.
terof 3 circle, deposaing it in COM
pact gavel entirele out of the way of
the machine on the next round. It is
hard to conceive how this difficult
probiem of perfect side-deliEering
reaper can be more satisfactorily
solved than is done in the Buckeye
Table Rake. But to return 10 the trial.
After few rounds by each machine,
all parties adjourned for. dinner. In
the AFTERNOON a new competition ap-
peared upon the ground /; the " Cham
pion," also a Reel Rake" differing
very little in the principles of its con-
struction from the other. machines Of
that class. "a shower sof rain soon |
put a stop to the cutting, and com
pelIed an adjournment. A careful ex-
animation of the gaVels laid by the
different machines, was made by those
and showed that while all
lid good work, yet the compact, square
gaVel of the Table Rake made the
work oGthe binder much easier, es-
1ecially as the under side was invari-
Ibly straight, while with the others
he grain underneath was frequently
visited and laid at right angles to the
est of the bundle. This fact has been
certified to by Mr.. Bebb, the owner
# the grain.
The contest was resumed on Mon
lay by the Buckeye, Russell and
but developed no new
The Buckeye fully sustained
he impression given me on the first
rial. 1 learned that two machines
we're sold on the ground, and a third
ould have been disposed of if it had
'een possible 10 obtain it. l am in
ormed that the demand for these ma
hines during the past season has
argely exceeded the supply, il spite
( the fact that q much larger num-
'er were built than ever before; and !
hat the enterprising manufacturers of
his machine intend building much
nore largely for the next season.
The trial as a whole was a very
leasant affair,z being entirely free
son the quarreiing and angry words
etween exhibitors, which is so often
disagreeable feature of such occa-
ions. OBSERVER.
August 10, 1874.