New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-26

stantially the same.
The early struggle Of the reaper into notice began
nearly 100 years ago about thirty years after tie
spinning machine of Arkwrght and the Watt Steam
engine andabout The Same time the abortiyeseam-
boat experimentsof Symington Scotland TWAS an
age wakingup, when men in all the great industries
to have looked round for more efficient meth
DDS. A number of machines were attempted from
time to time from 1896 to 1911, with varying
but generally unsatisfactory results. Bells
machine of 1S26-1s31 was somewhat better of its
kind than most that had preceded it, 1t was pushed
before by the horses, feature of several of the
earlier machines and which may yet be seen In
one at the Exposition built by Case, OF Wisconsin,
for the California market, AMI very useful III that
land where wheat is cut dead ripe and thrashed in
the field. 1t cuts swath fifteen feet wide. Bells
machine had feature the reel, which is yet pre-
served in some OF our reapers, especially the drop
pers and the binders. Mr.. Mccormick then OF VIZ
GINA and since of Chicago, was the first man to
make reaper worthy of note, and stands IN the
same relation to this implement that Watt docs to
the steam engine and Fulton TO the steamboat. lie
made the vibrating knife, the finger aud bar pro-
iecting into the grain and carrying the guards, the
knife driven from the wheel OF the main frame, tho
divides in the standing grain, and the platform with
heraker's stand. This was great deal for one man
future for any one to distinguish himself to an
equal extent in this implement. Mr. Mccormick in
the Worlds Fair at London. in 1851, made an III
preston which has not been erased, winch gave
Europe an idea of the characteristic quaity-OTign-
aity-of our inventions. The lesson has been re-
poated
improvements once begun progress was rapid,
and the slotted guard Of HuSsey, The hinged finger
bar of Miller the automatic rake the double cam
aud comfortable switch of Johnston, ana the bind
ing attachment Of Locke with other things, have
filled mp the interval between the work Of the
young man in Virginia and the present time. with
the exceptions of theaGtom3tic binding machines
tho Marsh pattern and us horizontally rccpro-
eating rake of Anltman, of Ohio, | have
not noticed in the Exposition a single auto
matte raker which does not the Johnston
double-cam aud switch movement tor governing
the rakes Mccormick starcd with single driving
wheel and some have kept 1t all these years. il Is
agaiu i'm principal favor for rcapers but the double
drivers, which now used principally on con-
bmcd mowers aud rclpcrS, and on simple
mowers was for some time quite popular with
simple reapers also. The makers watch each other
pretty closely and keep abreast rs near as they may
so far as patents will allow.
The automatic binders at the Exposition are
eight in number; six American and two English.
latter. one is rican-Johnstou's-and the other
Eng!ish-Ncaess The five American binders using
wire are Walter A. Woods, Osborn's, McCormicks
William Arson Woods and Aultman's. The
English machine using wire is Towards, aud
is n modification Of that Of Walter A.
Wood of IIoosck Falls, \. \. or the work.
or even OF the mode Of operation OF the
English machine II is not possible to speak at
present for il is not fully put together and though
the gentleinanly owners are perfectly .communica-
tive and also apprcciatiyc of the merits of the Wood
machine which they acknowledge rs the original,
1t is not easy in the absence of half the parts to form
n satisfactory conclusion a7-to the mode OF working
much less OF the probable effect oi a trial which j.
the only proof of efficiency. or the work OF tie
Walter A. Wood binder it Is easy to speak, as have
used il successfully within the year past and pre-
yiously.
Another English machine is in the Agricultural
annex, but the owner seldom present, will not
allow it to be uncovered in his absence. 1t
uses string and ties o recf-knot. The grain is car
ried heads first right back Of tho platform up
slght incline 10 second elevated table. when
tronsycrscly operating rake gathers IL into
gayel against a frame, where il lies while the
Irvine is passed round 1t, knottcd and cut.
4 motion of the frame then allows the shrai 10 drop
vertically on 70 the ground, whore 10 lies behind the
carriage aud ont Of the way of the horses on thc
next round. The Johnston harvester binds with
stlue as has been said. but it makes " square knot,
the doubled string being given round turn and
rove through like a knot ON a whlp-ash. THIS Is
perfectIy secure aud IL very mgcniously accom-
plished. It's made evident by ready calculation
mat there Is as much TO be gained by the automatic
binder as has already been accomplished by the cu-
ting mechanism and the problem appears TO be rear
ia solution The prejudice in England is greatly
against WIRE and much more pother il made about
# fnan the case warrants. | fed the wire-b0und
sheayes of a crop OF wheat of my own through the
thrashing machine, wire and all, some years ago,
and the cattle ate mp tine straw without
saving anything about it-whateyer they might
have thought; and they did well. Next year cut
with another machine and bound with straw bands.
using no wire. That winter a COW died | did not
aScribe it TO the lack Of metal IN the straw pile
though the tncturc OF the muratc of iron y said to
be good for the blood, and some has said that
there is enough iron in the blood of healthy man
TO make tenpenny nail. Being rather an expensive
experiment, it has not been tried but the metallic
resultant would probably be as interesting me-
meuto on the mantclpiece rs few spoonfuls of
paosphate of lime and things. the result Of crema
ton.
All the American binders ut the Exposition have
the same general method of cutting the grain and
carrying it TO the binding apparatus. This Is sim
liar to the Marsh harvester the platform being rig
idly connected to the carriage which has a single
driving wheel. The grain falls into an apron trayer-
sing iransycrsely and this delivers il continuously TO
an inclined Slated tooth ed apron, which cleyaes
it and discharges il to the binding table, where 1t
Is encirclcd by the wire Irvine of the binder arm
At this point may be said to begin the line of de-
marcation between the machines exhibited, but
i.tiaa Ilu at
length now.
That some machines are not so readily adapted TO
the attachment of a binder is clearly demonstrated
by their owners fOrsakng in some respects the
tTnns of thnir pecnlIar machlnes. and assmiInting