The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-01

that Of the elevator, under the gentle
pressure Of four flexible strips Of steel,
which are curved SO as to direct it to
the binder. A lever, within reach Of
the driver enables him to move the ele
waiting bands backward or forward, so
as 70 deliver the grain to the binder in q
manner that will insure it's being bound
in the right place, whether the straw i,
long or short.
The inclination Of the binding table
would, Of itself, insure the slipping Of
the grain down TO the binder, but in
this machine nothing is left, to chance.
Working through slots in this table are
two feed dogs, each having three prongs
about ten inches apart and working alter
nateIy. Rising to the top of the slots
they are thrown up and the prongs pro-
jected through the grain, which is borne
down against them by the flexible steel
strips already described. Passing down
to the bottoms OF the slots and carrying
the grain with them, these feed dogs
drop below the table, ascend to the
tops OF the slots, and are again pro-
jected up through the table to receive a
new supply Of grain and carry it down
to the binder. The grain is crowded
down by the feed dog, against one
prong or spoke Of Il four pronged wheel,
and, when the quantity accumulated
there becomes sufficient for Il bundle,
the pronged wheel springs outward, per-
forming an eighth revolution. Instant
ly the feed dogs stop and Il grain shield
IS projected through slot in the table,
separating the grain to be tied from
that still coming from the elevator, anu
from this shield the cord-arm is thrown
forward to carry the cord to the tyer.
The tying we cannot describe intel
Lightly. Let it suffice to say that the
band is tied in u hard square knot and
the Irvine cut of. The pronged wheel
then makes another eighth revelation,
throwing up another prong to receive
the next bundle, the co,d-arm and shield
return beneath the table, the feed dogs
resume work, and the process of max
ing another sheaf has begun. The fin
ished bundle being at the same tine
dropped gent y to the ground. This is
the whole operation. IL is curious,
beautiful, deliberate. No hurrying, no
throwing or scattering of the grain, but
careful, clean, good work. The bun
dies are Of uniform size and cannot be
otherwise, for the pronged wheel will
not spring till grain enough for a bum
die is crowded against it, and this it is
that regulates the operations Of the
binder. It is not dependent on the mo-
ton of the "hull-wheel." Even if tho
strings breaks, unless the end il drawn
out Of the end of the cord arm, only one
bundle is missed, for the cord-arm will
faithfully deliver the end Of the string
to the tyer every time, if it has it.
The machine is ingenious and beauti-
full. 1t was drawn by span of light
horses, and cut five acres from half-after
one till five o'clock, one swath being a
mile long, and the horses did not sweat,
although the day was hot, more than
teams drawing empty wagons. We
must not omit to mention, either, that
the grain generally was very heavy ard
the ground rough and uneven, several
gu}lies being crossed by the machine
and two mounds (of the old mound
builders) cut over. Again, the bum
dies were not only uniform in size but
tightly bound We compared a number
of them with hand-boand bundles pick
ing both up at random, ard in every in
stance the machine bound were the
highest. We have bundle in the of.
fee which we caught up and shook, and
then we took up and shook in the same
maun9r 2 hand bound bundle. The
latter fell to pieces and we left it in
the field. The other stands in oar SLOW
window after being carried two miles
by hand and twelve i1 the cars. Mr..
VIM. McGregor, the General superin-
tendant of Thompson's shops, and Mr..
F. M. Flanagan, contractor of the ma
chine were at Mr.. Ettcr's, and we are
indebted to them for explanations.
Messrs. Nelson & Peterson, of this city,
will have the agency for this county,
and those who desire further particu-
ulars will find them ready to answer all
questions.