The Cecil Whig., 1882-05-27
A VISIT TO d. M. OSBORNE Il CO.
WORKS AT AUBURN, N. Y.

lntSe great laDpr-SaNcfS. no" so aoSOlule
ly Indispensable to the harvesting of oul
great grain crops, were practically un.
known, though the ancient Romans rec
ognized the need of device that would
cat grain more expcditiously than could
be done by the new obsolete sickle. The
cradle superseded the sickle, upon which
it was Il decided improvement, but was
still inadequate to the constantly increa>-
ing demands of the grain growers. Long
before the introduction of the cradle.
many attempts to construct machine
that would DO the work much more rap
idly and efficiently, We're made, but with
out success. These repeated failures,
dishearteuing as they We're. did not, how
ever, deter other inventors from laboring
to overcome the difficulties that con
stantly presented themselves.
EARLY MACHINES.
Early in the present century various
machines were produced i'll England.
most of which We're beautiful and ingen-
iJRs, but which, like all that had preced-
ed them. proved valueless when practi.
cally tested in the grain field. Until 1850
nothing i'll the shape Of machine reaper
had been invented. which, on trial, gave
reasonable assurance THAT it could be
protitably used. The best that could be
said of them was that they We're a de-
gree better than mechanical curiosities.
Smiths, Bells and Mans were tried, and
according to official reports did fair
work where the grain stood quite erect.
or if inclined at all, was but slightly in
one direction What was understood
by ''fair work then, would hardly pass
muster now, though these machines pre-
Sented decided evidences of Improvement.
Nearly all of them had rotary knives.
Bells reaper was first tried in 1876. 1t
cut on the clipping or shears principle,
and was u nearer approach to Il really
successful machine than anything that
had been produced up to that time. The
grain was brought to the knives or shears
by reel, and was laid in swath along
side of the machine by means Of an end
less apron.
Greatly encouraged by Bells partial
success, the spirit of invention received
rev impetus, and the most sanguine
hopes We're entertained that the great
deslderatum- a thoroughly successful ma
chine reaper-one that would do its work
well i'll all kinds of grain, would eventu-
ally be made. But it was not until Obed
llussey, of Baltimore, invented the Vi
bratinS knife passing through iron
guards, that daylight upon the long
mooted question of reaping machines be-
gan fairly to dawn. Husscys reaper
was worked without reel. 1t had rigid
wooden finger bar, which was awkward
and unwieldy, and TIE entire machine
very far behind those of the present day
in ncatness compactness and effective
ness.
The principle of the vibrating knife
"'''' VIZ u NV 'llS- iidl vas tt bltt dt-
knowledgcd as Il fundamental fact, and
its universal adoption since, with some
improvements. sustains the conclusion
The llassey reaper did far better work in
grain of all kinds than any that had pre-
ceded it, The leading objection to it was
the difficulty experienced in having the
cut grain fall on the platform in such or
der as would enable the rakcr to push it
off in regularly laid gavels for the bind
erS. Still. it was the best in use. and was
the first step toward the grand triumph
of American inventive genius which fol-
lowed soon after. and which to-day is ac
knowleaged throughout the civilized
world as among the most useful OF mod
ern inventions.
McCormick's celebrated reaper was
another triumph which Europe was com
pelled to acknowledge at the World Ex-
hibition in London in 1861 But it, like
all the early machines, was far from being
perfect. 1t was awkward in appearance,
of exceedingly heavy draft. and in many
respects, difficult to manage. But not
withstanding its imperiectionS, there was
an immediate demand for it throughout
the West, where grain cultur: had be-
come a leading pursuit, and where har-
vest hands were difficult to procure at
any price.
Naturally, this demand for these two
partially successful machines still further
stimulated invention, The flexible OF
hinged tinger-bar superseded the clumsy,
rigid, wooden one; the knives and guards
were improved, and the moving machine
became success. Iron took the place of
wood in many parts of the machines: the
objectionable side draft and the injurious
weight imposed upon the necks of the
horses were obviated; the workmanship
was more accurate. and as 4 consequence,
the draft was materially lesSened. In a
word, in less than twenty years Ameri
lean mechanics gave to the world reap
ing and moving machines that seemed to
be as nearly perfect as human ingenuity
was capable of fashiouing them. They
were soon recognized as Indispensable
adJuuotS TO every farm, and, as a natural
consequence. manufactures sprung up
in every part Of the country.
Among the most prominent early Amer
lean machines were ketchbum's, Allen
Pennock' :. Manny's Ball y Black, and
Kirby and q host Of others, whose names
cannot readily be recalled.
1t was conceded that the cutting prin
ciple of all these machines was essen
TALLY the trHe one The mower had been
brought 10 perfection or nearly SO, and
as far as the reaper was concerned moth
inc was left to be desired but a Self-Rak-
country was taxed, and again it proved
itself equal to the demand made upon it.
Those who witnessed the admirable
operation of the atkins Automatic Self
rake twenty-five years ago, must admit
that more ingenious or beautiful piece
of farm mechanism was never produced.
But it did not meet all the requirements.
The objections to it were its costliness
and the difficulty of its management by
any other than thoroughly experienced
persons. Something less expensive and
less complicated was wanted. No sooner
was this want expressed than there was
a response which not only filled the bill
in every particular. but went a great way