AN IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT
Year: 1856

page_text: Sealed the 23rd September 1856, and dated the 25th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Collins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1856.
I, ROBERT COLLINS, of Trent, near Sherborne, in the County of Dorset, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL
IMPLEMENT" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain new and improved mechanical arrange-
ments designed for the purpose of adapting one machine or implement to four
distinct uses, namely, as a "scarifier," a "couch rake," a "skim plough," and
a "turnip hoe," thus dispensing with the necessity and expense of distinct and
separate implements for the above purposes, as heretofore practised, and ren-
dering the same less cumbersome, and consequently more easily worked than
machines of a similar character, as heretofore constructed. The means by
which the above advantage are obtained according to this Invention are as
follows:-I so construct a light iron framework as that the sides thereof are
capable of being adjusted nearer together or farther apart, as also land wheels:
and shafts; and according to the purpose for which I require.the machine, in

page_text: like manner I adapt thereto suitable implements; for example, if required for
a scarifier or skim plough, I adapt thereto upon adjustable rods implements
accordingly and so on for the couch rake and turnin hoe have mentioned
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters, Patent, filed
by the said Robert Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
COLLINS, of Trent, in the County of Somerset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Ier
reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Collins, Ier special licence that I, the said Robert Collins,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Collins, my executors, administrators, and 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 "AN IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL
IMPLEMENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Collins, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 dato of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Collins, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in certain new and improved mechanical arrange-
ments designed for the purpose of adapting one machine or implement to four
distinct uses, namely, as a "scarifier," a "couch rake," a "skim plough," and
a "turnip hoe," thus dispensing with the necessity for and expense of distinct
and separate implements for the above purposes, as heretofore practised,
thereby rendering the same less cumbersome, and consequently more easily.

page_text: worked than machines.of a similar character,.as heretofore. constructed. The
means by which the above improvements may be effected are as follows:-I
so construct a light iron framework as that the sides thereof are capable of
being adjusted nearer together or farther apart, as also land wheels and
shafts; and according to the purpose for which I require the machine, in
like manner I adapt thereto suitable implements of the ordinary kind; for
example, if required, for a scarifier or a skim plough, I adapt thereto upon
adjustable rods implements such as are commonly used for such purposes,
and this applies also to the couch rake and turnip hoc above mentioned.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of Drawings
annexed to these Presents, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively, as follows
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 exhibits my improved agricultural implement adapted as a scarifier
with eleven tines; Figuro 2, the said implement adapted as a rake; Figure 3,
the implement adapted as a skim plough; Figure 4, the implement adapted
as a turnip hoc. At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters of
reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can
be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
Tho framing of this implement is made principally of wrought iron, and
comprises the following parts:-A front or splinter bar or rail A, to which aro
adjusted the land wheels B, B, and shafts C, pole D, or chains and bars E and
F, shewn at Figure 1. G, G, are adjustable side framings, connected by uni-
versal joints at g, g, to the bar A; said framings terminate in handles at II, H,
and said handles are employed for raising or lowering the tines I, I, or other
instruments used. These instruments are adjustable in pieces of metal at *;
said pieces of metal being also adjustable upon the rod or bar K, as at
Figures 2 and 3, or upon rods or bars K, K, arranged and disposed as
at Figure 1. It will be seen upon referring to Figures 4 and 5, that the
position of the sido framings G, G, is altered to adapt the machine as a
turnip hoe and a skim plough; the knives or instruments L thereof being of
the ordinary kind.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of
"An Improved Agricultural Implement," together with the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in
conclusion, that I claim as my Invention, the constructing of an agricultural

page_text: implement in the manner above particularly described and represented,
whereby it is capable of being used either as a "scarifier," a "couch rake,"
a "skim plough," or a "turnip hoe," as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Collins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM HELLYAR,
Trent.
ROBERT COLLINS. (L.S.)