The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-02
COTTON PICKER.

The following from Atlanta COnStuM10H:
about cotton picker, the work of a Pits
burg genius VIII no doubt prove interesting
to our readers:
One of the most remarkable mechanical
devices ever brought to Atlanta is to be
seen 1T the warehouse Of the Consolidated
Wagon Company, No. 35l Alabama Street,
Just across the street from the headquarters OF
the FIRE department.
i, is cotton picking machine, and is
the work of PittsbuTg genius. II arrived
in Atlanta Yesterday and will be here seve-
days The gentleman who Is IN charge
of it says that it is not yet ready for pub
lie exhibition though he will take pleasure
in presenting it to as many as may call.
| he says that the owners of the machine
are now on their way to Atlanta from Pitts
burg, and that they will reach here 10
day or two; that on their arrival, II Is
their purpose to give public exhibition to
demonstrate the fact to the satisfaction OF
every body who sees it that the machine Will
do exactly what's claimed for it-plck the
cotton from the plant without inJurlng the
plant in the slightest or without bruisins
or harming in any way the growing bolls or
the leaf of the stalk.
Yesterday afternoon the machine was
given preliminary trial. A long row of
cotton plants full Of open bolls, were nailed
upright to a scantl;ng fixed to the floor.
Between each plant a large geranlum or
some other delicate hotbouse plant was
placed, each plant being in full bloom and
prolific of leaf The cotton picker was pull
ed over the row, and it did not leave
vestigo Of lint in any Of the bols, while
the geranium and blooms were entirely unln-
jured and apparently untouched.
This trial was made il TIE presence Of
several we'll known Atlanta gertleneo,
among the number being Ex-Governor Nor
then, Mr. George W. Truitt, the we'll known
cotton planter Of Troup county, snd otter
vel. known cotton men.
On its way to Atlanta the machine was
given an active test on the field in Bar
on county and of the result Colonel Tom
Lyons says ''lt absolutely amazed our
farmers. aad demonstrates bevond The
shadow of doubt that it Will do what is
claimed Tor it, | saw il do it myself, and
never would have believed thai it could
Go what ii does if had not seen it with NY
own eyes
The machine is not on the market and
the one now in Atlanta is from the
patentee's owr hands. He has been at
work on i! for severa! years, and this is
the second machine made, it being vast
improvement over the first. The machine
will be carried back to Pi:tshurg in a
few DAYS and there third machine will
be made, the suggestions which have been
made from practical test being taken
advantage Of, and many more Improvements
thus be made.
The dimensions OF the machine are sp-
proximatey nine feet in leogth, FIVE feet
| in width end six feet in height. 1t is mount
ed on four metal carrying wheels, and in
general appearance is not unlike road en-
CINE except that it is hauled by horses,
and receives the power to propel the work
ing mechanism from the traction wheels
The rear wheels are four feet in diameter.
The tires are eight inches wide, and clested
on the rim to provide traction ample
10 operate the mechanism for picking tie
cotton from III. plants, and the stripping
devices and elevators, in motion. The oo-
ject of the elevators is to deposit the cot
ton in large sacks located at the top near
the rear end of the machioe. The front
wheels are three feet 10 diameter, With
| three-inch tires, and are merely carrying
apd steering wheels to which the tongue Is
secured.
The total weight of the machine is about
1900 pounds, and of extremely light draugnt,
snd it can be drawn and operated by one
pair of horses. The cotton picking appara-
tus can be READILY and almost instantly
raised or lowered to suit the condition OF
the cotton and the surface Of the ground
on which it is operated. The picking and
stripping mechanisms are entirely encased
within light metallic cases. except the
elongated slots through which the picking
needles protrude The needles are mounted
on suitable bearings in vertical carriers,
thirty-four in Dumoer, seventeen on each
side, being linked together, working 81
multaneously. The gears are encased wl'I-
iu the carriers Each carrier in making
the circui, of its oblong course, makes
nearly one turn on its own axis, and each
needle while in the paut makes hiteen
revolutions, and FIVE revolutions IN the OPP
posite direction while being stripped. The
needles are inserted longiiudinally into the
plant 10 an extended position, then rotated
rapidly and moved backward at speed
corresponding tc the forward rate Of travel
of the machine, therby avoiding any move
plant, except a rotary motion. The needles
are Withdrawn longitudinaly from the pant
and pass between yiedirg stationary strip
pers, whereby he cotton is deposited in the
! elevators.
The machine is drawn astride the cotton
row and the needles are inserted simulian-
eous!y from each side into the plant. The
needles are ne-eighth CT an inch IN diameter,
ten inches long and provided on one side
/ with row OF fine teeth, formed integral
with the body of the needle the points /
the teeth being turned down TO prevect
them from engaging with any foliage, i'm
mature tolls or blooms. The teeth are
sharp pointed and when they come in con-
tact with the 1eecy staple, or matured cot
ton, it is immediately engaged and spun
c!eanl: out of the burr. ''e teeth are in
cine toward the point, or sc end of the
needle, to facilitate the stripping OF The cotton
from them.
TIE capacity of the machine is from six 10
5ht acres per day, and from two to four
osirs per day according to the yield. Ii
takes fifteen ord nary hands q whole day to
p!ck one bale, averaging about leo pounds
each. making {. ;ota! of !, 800 pounds, or 500
&. Er, ~