IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Nicholson, of Chaple House, Hensingham,
Whitehaven, in the County of Cumberland, Agricultural Implement
Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES."
Sealed the 9th November 1860, and dated the 17th May 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Nicholson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
May 1860.
I, JOSEPH NICHOLSON, of Chaple House, Hensingham, Whitehaven, in the
County of Cumberland, Agricultural Implement Maker, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
reaping machine, whereby the machine is balanced so as to throw no un-
necessary weight upon the horses, whilst, from the peculiar position of the
draught pole, side draught is entirely prevented.
According to this Invention the whole of the machinery is carried by one
cast-iron bracket, from the outside of which projects the axle pin which carries
the large driving wheel. The height of the cutting mechanism can be regu-
lated or adjusted by inserting the axle pin into one or other of a series of holos
made at different heights in the bracket, and shifting the small wheel at tho
opposite side of the machine to correspond. The centre of the main driving

page_text: wheel is placed in a direct line with the cutters, and the draught pole is bolted
to the top of the bracket, and can be regulated to suit the different heights to
which the machine may be set.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
NICHOLSON, of Chaple House, Hensingham, Whitehaven, in the County of
Cumberland, Agricultural Implement Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Nicholson, Her special license that I, the said Joseph
Nicholson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Joseph Nicholson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Nicholson, by an instrument in writing under my
band and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Nicholson, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
reaping machine, whereby the machine is balanced so as to throw no un-
necessary weight upon the horses, whilst, from the peculiar position of the
draught pole, side draught is entirely prevented.

page_text: According to this Invention the whole of the machinery is carried by one
cast-iron bracket, from the outside of which projects the axle pin, which carries
the large driving wheel. The height of the cutting mechanism can be regu-
lated or adjusted by inserting the axle pin into one or other of a series of holes
made at different heights in the bracket, and shifting the small wheel at the
opposite side of the platform of the machine to correspond. The centre of the
main driving wheel is placed nearly in a direct line with the cutters, and the
draught pole is bolted to the top of the bracket, and can be regulated to suit
the different heights to which the machine may
be set.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more purticularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of my improved
reaping machine; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same; and Figure 3
is a back elevation and partial transverse section of the machine.
>
A is the cast-iron bracket herein-before referred to; it is bolted at a, a, to
the draught pole B, and is provided with a stud pin C, which carries the main
driving wheel D. This pin may be placed at different elevations, so as to
regulate the height of the cutters by inserting it into one or other of the holes
b, b, formed on the bracket, as will be clearly seen on referring to Figure 1;
it is secured in its place by a nut c, as shewn in Figure 3. The holes b, b, arc
disposed in the arc of a circle struck from the centre of the shaft G, berein-
after referred to. The whole of the cutter-actuating mechanism is carried by
the bracket A. The main driving wheel D, which is supported by the pin C
in the side of the bracket, is provided with an internal toothed. wheel, a
circular rack E, which gives motion on the rotation of the wheel to the spur
pinion F fast on the end of the short shaft G. By the peculiar disposition of
the adjusting holes b, b, in the manner herein-before described, the pinion G
will always be in gear with the internal rack at whatever height the machine
may be adjusted. This shaft works in bearings d, d, bolted to the base plate
of the bracket, and carries a bevel wheel II, which gears into a bevel pinion I
fast on the end of the short shaft J; it is protected from clogging by a semi-
circular casingh on its under side, cast in one piece with the bracket A. The
shaft J works in bearings d', d, also bolted to the base plate of the cast-iron
bracket A, and carries at its opposite end a disc and crank pin K, which impart
motion through the connecting rod L to the ordinary knife or cutter M; N is
a lever handle for throwing the cutting gear out of action when required. The

page_text: angle of the draught pole B may be regulated by suitably adjusting the bolts
a, a, in one or other of the bolt holes made for that purpose at the back and,
front ends of the bracket. The end of the finger bar O is bolted at e to a lug
cast for that purpose on the bottom of the bracket A; and, in order to main-
tain the finger bar and platform firm and steady at right angles to the draught
pole, adjustable stays may be used, as shewn at P, P; Q is the seat of the
attendant.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of reaping machines, as
herein-before described.
Second, the attaching of the whole of the driving or actuating mechanism
of a reaping machine to a single metal bracket substantially as herein-before
described.
Third, the peculiar mode of regulating the height of the cutters in reaping
machines, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar mode of regulating the angle of the draught pole in
reaping machines, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the Joseph Nicholson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, Ono thousand eight
hundred and sixty.