AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR HOEING LAND AND REMOVING WEEDS OR SUPERFLUOUS PLANTS THEREFROM
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert McHardy, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
IMPLEMENT FOR HOEING LAND AND REMOVING WEEDS OR SUPERFLUOUS
PLANTS THEREFROM."
Sealed the 4th May 1869, and dated the 9th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert McHardy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, ou
the 9th November 1868.
I, ROBERT M HARDY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR HOEING LAND AND REMOVING WEEDS OR
SUPERFLUOUS PLANTS THEREFROM," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention which relates to an improved implement to be
employed for hoeing land, and removing weeds and superfluous plants
therefrom, consists of a shaft or bar mounted on a pair of wheels at one
end, whilst at the other end a handle is placed by which the operator
actuates the implement. At a short distance from the part to which the

page_text: wheels are attached an adjustable guide socket is placed in which is held
the hoeing tool, which is arranged to be capable of adjustment in any
required position according to the nature of the work to be done. When
the necessary adjustment is made the implement on being pushed
forward by the operator acts upon the weeds or superfluous growth and
their removal is effected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert McHardy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, ROBERT
MCHARDY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert McHardy, Her special license that I,
the said Robert McHardy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert McHardy, 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 "AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR HOEING LAND AND
REMOVING WEEDS OR SUPERFLUOUS PLANTS THEREFROM," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert McHardy, by an instrument
in writing under my hand 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 Robert M'Hardy, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying

page_text: Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
My said Invention, which relates to an improved implement to be
employed in hoeing land and removing weeds and superfluous plants
therefrom, consists of a shaft or bar mounted on a pair of wheels at one
end, whilst at the other end a handle is placed by which the operator
actuates the implement. At a short distance from the part to which
the wheels are attached an adjustable guide socket is placed in which
is held the hoeing tool, which is arranged to be capable of adjustment
in any required position according to the nature of the work to be done.
When the necessary adjustment is made the implement on being pushed
forward by the operator acts upon the weeds or superfluous growth and
their removal is effected.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in
or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the improved
implement as constructed in accordance with my said Invention.
fixed to the axle B, on which the
fixed to the axle, preferably by a
having a screw thread upon that
The shaft or bar A rests upon and is
wheels C, C, are carried. The shaft is
pin D passing through the shaft, and
part which projects above the shaft, and provided with a pinching
nut E; the lower end of the pin is formed in the shape of a hooked band
to grasp the axle firmly. The axle B and shaft A may however be
otherwise connected together. At the other end of the shaft A a
hindle F is fixed by which the operator actuates the implement. The
bracket bolts G constitute that by which the hoeing tool H is held. The
bracket G, which is by preference formed of wood, is made adjustable,
so that its position on the shaft A may be regulated, and it is tightened
thereto by the screw-pinching levers I, I, so as to suit the nature of the
work to be done or the kind of weeds to be removed. On the shaft.
there is also screwed or otherwise fixed a metal scraper or protector J
for the purpose of keeping the wheels from fouling with weeds or
being clogged by soil adhering to them. This scraper is double, that is,
it extends latterally across the shaft to both the wheels, as seen more
clearly in the plan, Figure 2, but it may be made either broader or

page_text: narrower, and by placing the bracket G on the opposite side of the
shaft A the hoe H may be made to cut or scrape the ground or soil
entirely on one side of the implement.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
hand hoeing implement, as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The supporting of hand hoeing implements on carrying or
bearing wheels, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert McHardy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.