The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-21
A MAINE MANS INVENTION.
Successful Trial of tho Brown Now
ing Machine.
How Portland May Be Greatly Bene-
fitted by the Invention.

Yesterday afternoon in the w. W. Thomas
field at Cape Elizabeth, in the presence of
news paper representatives and other in
terested gentlemen the Brown Self-Sharpen-
ing Endless moving machine was given a
very satisfactory trial Richardson, Walker
q Co., of this city are general agents
for this machine which is the invention of
Mr. j. o. Brown of PenObscot county. For
the last fifteen years Mr.. Brown has been at
work upon his new invention and has now
got it about as near perfection as it is posi-
BILE to make it. The power is taken direct
from a cluster of inclosed gear to the inside
shoe and corrected there with sprocket-
wheel four inches in diameter The knives
are attached to chain that runs over
pulley at the outer end of the cutter-Dar,
which is tSo inches in diameter, making
taper from the inside shoe. The fingers are
two and a quarter inches from centre to
centre, and are made of malleable iron,
with steel plates that are of the right temper
to stand the wear. The finger has a half
globe-shaped wheel that is riveted in the
centre and hangs directly over the position
of the knives. The half-globe wheel being
corrugated on the under side, when the
machine is in motion and the knives passing
from one guard TO the other, the grass or
grain is brought against the back edge of
the wheel, causing it to turn and thus aid
the grass to form for the cutting of the next
knife, and preventing possibility of clogging
under any circumstances.
The self-sharpener is so arranged that the
operator merely places his foot on a lever
which brings a file or piece of emery, as may
be used, in contact with the knives as they
pass around the sprocket-wheel which is set
at the same Oeyel as the knives. When the
knives are sufficiently sharp the drives has
only to lift one foot. The advantages over
all other machines that are claimed for the
Brown self-sharpener are that it never clogs,
1t requires not more than twO-thrdS the
horse power, rides easy as a buggy, is almost
noiseless, sharpens itself at the will of the
driver without stopping, and leaves the
ground smooth as lawn. The Brown Self
Sharpening Moving Machine Company has
been organized under the laws of the State
of Maine and has its office at Boston. Mr..
E. b. James, president of the company, is
also Maine man. Only small number of
machines were made this year. 1t is eXpec-
ted when it is thoroughly introduced it will
take 5000 machines yearly to supply the de-
mand in New England. 1t is said that nego-
tiation will be opened with the Portland
Company to see if satisfactory arrange
ments can be made with them for the manu-
facture OF the machine. 1t is also said that
the Portland Company are inclined to think
favorably of the matter. If they decide to
Manufacture thp Machine If will naaacsitata
the employment of several hund red more
men at their extensive works and will be a
very material addition to the industries of
our city. In other words it will help with
other things to bring Portland to the front
as q manufacturing city.