The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-10-18
docs THE WORK
Cotton Picking Machine Invented by al
Augusta Boy Said to be
A WONDERFUL SUCCESS

Description of the Picker and How
4 1t Gathers the Flcecy Stapie-Ca,s
Be Equipped With Electric Lights
For Work at Night-To be Male
in augusta
1t is here at last, The Augusta
Chronicle says, the Fourcher cotton
picking machine, that marvellous
creation of inventive genius by a
bright young Augusta boy, was given
a practical demonstration in the
presence OF number of cotton grow
ers and business men in a tiourishing
cotton field on the farm OF Itr. Robs..
Fleming, four miles from the city,
All who witnessed the demonstration
agreed that Fourcher cotton picker
is the invention of the age. and that
a great future awaits the machine
and its maker.
The new cotton picker is the III
vention of Mr.. Harry Z. Fourcher,
of Augusta. Four years ago he COLI
ceived the idea that a machine could
be made to take the place Of the
slow and, too often, unreliable negro
cotton picker, upon whom the south
ern farmer depends to harvest the
worlds greatest staple. NJ. Four
cher began to work quietly aha said
nothing Of his efforts unit he had
his machine patented and, ready for
operation. In the ntime cotton
picking machines were invented and
some were actually put on the oar
ket But none were built upon the
Fourcher plan, and he was enabled
to continue his work indisturbed by
the fear of having his Ideas stolen.
Early in the summer Of 1909 MIR.
Fourcher exhibited his invention.
The cotton picker was a very crude
affair, but the idea was there, ard
bis friends were confident that he
would some day achieve success. The,
machine WAS given several tests dur.
ing the following fall, and, although
it picked cotton, the invention was
still in the rough" Since that time
tMr. Foureher has busted himself i'm
j proving upon his original idea; and
now = he announces that the. cotton
:. picker is about comylete.
The cotton picker used for the de-
monstration is only rough model of
what the finished machine will be-.
Other improvements have been made,
and the machines that will be put
on the market will be lighter and
more compact.
The Fourcher cotton picking ma
chine is very simple and very prac-.
tical A little narrow wagon gears a
small gasoline motor, which operates
a tiny electric generator. This in
turn applies the power which works
the picking machine carried in the
hand by the laborer. Upon the little
wagon is frame from which flexible
wires connect the generator in the
wagon to little dynamos carried on
the backs of the men who operate
the pickers. The little dynamos
weigh about two pounds each. and
are attached by leather straps to tho
backs Of the workers. The pickers
carried in the hands of the men, are
operated by flexible shafts connected
with the dyRamos on their backs.
The picker is small simple little
device. a little metal box with. re-
volving burrs snatches the cotton OUT
OF the, boil without any injury to the
line and throws it back into the
cotton sack, to the mouth of whici
the machine is attached, and which
the worker draws along behind him.
The picker will not gather leaves OF
trast and the cotton is remarkably
clean. Each picking machine may
be equipped with apparatus for eight
pickers. Only one picker was used
III lHC uSlllOletldtlUu, dllh III Sllpi1
was made 10 show the capacity of the
machine. as green negro who had
never picked a boil OF cotton III bis
life handled the picker.
AS the pickers work. two in each
row. with 4 full force of eight pick
ers attached to each machine, tho
little wagon is drawn by hand down.
the middle row. The wagon is light
and can be easily moved over the
field. When it is in operation canvas
curtains protect the machinery from
contact with cotton stalks, weeds,
etc. The machine is equipped with
electric light, and it is possible
to attach small incandescent lights
to the .ats OF the workers. SD that
cotton may be picked at night. just
as coal miners are equipped for their
work in the black depths.
Il was shown by the test that eaclf
picker can easily gather 500 pounds
lof cotton in each working day or
10 hours, Tlis means a capacity OF
i 900 pounds for the machine. MI
Fourrher declares that his finished
machine, handled by expert cortuH
pickers. can gather 5000 pounds per
day OF 10 hours. The complete out
fits can be sold for S25U each ana