IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING & MOWING MACHINES, AND IN IMPLEMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Bamlett, of Middleton Tyas, in the County
of York, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING &
MOWING MACHINES, AND IN IMPLEMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH"
Sealed the 11th October 1860, and dated the 13th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Bamleft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th April 1860.
I, ADAM BAMLETT, of Middleton Tyas, in the County of York, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
& MOWING MACHINES, AND IN IMPLEMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
The first seven heads of the following description refer to improvements
in the machine usually called "Hussey reaping machine," which I carry
out as follows:-
1. I mount the framework that carries the cutting gear so that the fingers
shall lie parallel with the ground both in its highest and lowest position
when the machine is used as a reaper as well as a mower; to effect this
I mount the driving wheel in bearings, which are raised or lowered.
2. I fix the jointed pole or shafts to the under instead of the upper side
of the framework, by reason of which the pull is more in an upward direction,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and so as to prevent the fingers running into the ground in crossing deep
furrows when the machine is used as a mower.
3. I adapt a lever to raise the cutters from the ground, the fulcrum of
which is on the front part of the framework; one end of the lever is con-
nected to the pole or shaft, and the other end is acted on by the driver, to
raise and lower the cutting gear as may be required.
4. This part refers to the gearing of the machine. Instead of overhanging
the pinion that receives motion from the driving wheel on its shaft, I place
it between the bearings, and fit it loose on the shaft, to which I fit a driving
clutch, this is slid into or out of gear with the pinion as may be required
to communicate or stop the transmission of motion. Instead of applying
the clutch to hold a loose pinion, that pinion may be fixed and the clutch
applied to the bevil wheel fitted loose on the opposite end of the shaft.
5. I completely cover in the spur wheel and pinion with sheet metal or
other covering, in order to effectually prevent dirt getting into the teeth of
these wheels.
6. I make the haud rake with a cross or right angled handle about the
middle of the shaft, so as to give the raker more power over the crop.
7. Another method for better enabling this reaping machine to be used as
a mower consists in making the finger bar, platform, and travelling wheel
to be readily detached from the framework, and fixing another finger bar
and kuives to the framework with the fingers pointing in an opposite
direction. The horses are to be yoked to the other end of the machine,
which then travels in the reverse direction.
S. I make the iron finger bars ribbed, that is somewhat of a T form in
cross section, on it may be a (+) that is with the rib on the upper and
under sides, to add strength and rigidity; and I form at one end of these bars
a piece projecting backwards so as to more securely fix the end thereof to
the frame carried by the travelling wheel. I further plane that side of the
finger bar to which the fingers are fixed, in order to obtain greater accuracy
in the slots of the fingers through which the knives pass, or I fix solid fingers
to the bar or beam and cut out the slots by preference in a planing machine
and thereby obtain great accuracy in the slots of the fingers in which the
knives are received. I further make the fingers of great depth below the
knife, to prevent the contact of stones with the knife; and 1 also make
vertical seratious in the sides of the fingers to hold the corn well up to the
knife.
9. I make two holes instead of one in that part of the knife bar in which
the vertical sling and connecting rod are attached, so that they work on

page_text: different centres.
I drill a horizontal hole for the sling, while the hole for
the crank connecting rod is drilled parallel with the crank shaft.
10 & 11 are improvements on a former l'atent granted to me, No. 1148,
May 7th, in the year 1859; 10 consists of a swing bar or board, which may
be acted on by a spring, or fixed & placed over one of the delivery strap
rollers of Specification of Patent aforesaid, its object being to hold the butts
of the corn while the straps are carrying the heads round to form the corn
into a swathie; and I also apply a vertical fluted roller to push the corn
backwards the breadth of the finger bar.
11. Instead of mounting the travelling wheel in a castor frame, as in the
Specification of Patent aforesaid, I mount it on a bar or plate, which is
attached to the framework at each end by horizontal links of different lengths,
so that in turning the machine the wheel can assume positions in which it
will pass over the ground without cutting into it.
12 is a sledge for drawing the machine sideways through narrow gates. It
consists of three pieces of wood of suitable length jointed together; this is
then put under the driving wheel as far as possible, the jointed pieces at the
time being at right angles to each other, or nearly so; the free ends are
connected by a chain. Midway of this chain the team is yoked, which, in the
act of drawing, brings the jointed pieces into a triangular form, drawing the
side pieces under the wheel, and lifting the machine from the ground, over
which it may be dragged sideways without injury to the ground or machine.
13 is a contrivance for delivering the cut crop in sheaves at the side of the
machine. I dispose the finger bar in the rear of the driving wheel, on which
bar I mount an upright shaft, to which a triangular or other shaped carrier is
fixed; on this the self-acting delivering rake is mounted in bearings. A
horizontal arm is fixed to the top of the upright shaft, and connected by a
rod to a crank on the shaft of the driving wheel. As the driving wheel
revolves the upright shaft,carrier, and rake receive a reciprocating motion, and
describe a quarter circle; the quarter of a circle embraced and described by
the rake is the form and extent of the platform of the machine, which has a
high flange placed round the curved edge, part of which leans inwards. The
rake has also a rising and falling movement, the shaft thereof being cranked
and mounted in bearings on the carrier before mentioned. The motion is
effected either by cams or arms fixed to the shaft of the rake, which strike
against projecting parts, or by segments of a grooved pulley fixed to the rake
shaft, to which chains are attached, and alternately pull in different directions
to produce the reverse motions required. A spring holds the rake in position
when it is raking the corn from the platform, from which spring it releases

page_text: itself before rising to return for another sheaf. The motion of the rake in
rising lowers a board or rod of about the same length as the rake, which prevents
the rake scattering the corn. I communicate motion to the driving crank of
this delivering apparatus so that the motions of the rake may be regulated
according to the crop, and so as to produce one or less deliveries for each
revolution of the driving wheel. 1 arrange a foot board in connection with
the moving gear of the rake, by which the driver can throw it out of gear
when considerable time is required to elapse for the gathering of a sheaf;
this he does after the rake has risen, of which he has notice by the sound
of a bell or other indicating apparatus acted ou by the rake or otherwise.
14. I fix a toothed segment on the end of draught pole, into which is
geared an endless screw mounted on a frame, its object being to regulate
the cutting height of the knife.
15. I attach two or more flat pieces of iron or steel to the under side of
the finger bar of mowing machines, either jointed or clastic, which bear on
the ground, and regulate the cutting height of the knife, they being acted
on and adjusted by levers or set screws at the height required.
16. The last part of my Invention relates to the application of a locking
apparatus to the lever carrying the trucks between the main driving cams
described in the Complete Specification of the Patent herein-before referred
to,and consists in locking such lever with the trucks disposed in the bottoms
of the fixed cam, and so as to permit the free rotation of the running wheel
when disengaged from driving.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adam Bamlett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADAM
BAMLETT, of Myddleton Tyas, in the County of York, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, 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 Adam Bamlett, Her special licence that I, the said Adam
Bamlett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Adam Bamlett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: 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 AND MOWING MACHINES, AND IN IMPLE
MENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Adam Bamlett,my executors or administrators, by an instrumentin 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adam Bamlett, 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The first seven heads of the following description refer to improvements
in the machine usually called Hussey's reaping machine, which I carry out
as follows:-
1st. I mount the framework that carries the cutting gear so that the fingers
shall lie parallel with the ground both in its highest or lowest positions when
the machine is used as a reaper as well as a mower; to effect this I mount
the driving wheel in bearings, which are raised or lowered.
2ndly. I fix the jointed pole or shafts to the under instead of the upper side
of the framework, by reason of which the pull is more in an upward direction,
so as to prevent the fingers running into the ground in crossing deep furrows
when the machine is used as a mower.
3rdly. I adapt a lever to raise the cutters from the ground, the fulcrum of
which is on the front part of the framework; one end of the lever is connected
to the pole or shaft, and the other end of the lever is acted on by the driver
to raise the lever and cutting gear as may be required.
Instead of over-
4thly. This part refers to the gearing of the machine.
hanging the pinion that receives motion from the driving wheel on its shaft,
I place it between the bearings and fit it loose on the shaft, to which I fit a
driving clutch; this is slid into or out of gear with the pinion as may be
required to communicate or stop the transmission of motion. Instead of
applying the clutch to hold a loose pinion, that pinion may be fixed, and
the clutch applied to the bevil wheel fitted loose on the opposite end of the
shaft.

page_text: 5thly. I completely cover in the spur wheel and pinion with sheet metal or
other covering, in order to effectually prevent dirt getting into the teeth of
these wheels.
6thly. I make the hand rake with a cross or right-angled handle about the
middle of the shaft, so as to give the raker more power over the cross.
7thly. Another method for better enabling this reaping machine to be used
as a mower consists in making the finger bar, platform, & travelling wheel to
be readily detached from the framework, and fixing another bar and knives to
the framework with the fingers pointing in an opposite direction; the hores
are yoked to the other end of the machine, which then travels in the reverse
direction.
Sthly. I make the iron finger bars ribbed, that is, somewhat of a T-form in
cross section, or it may be a (+) cross, that is with the rib of the upper and
under sides, to add strength and regidity; and I form at one end of such bars
a piece projecting backwards, so as to more securely fix the end thereby to
the frame carried by the travelling wheel. I further plane that side of the
finger bar to which the fingers are placed, in order to obtain greater accuracy
in the slots of the fingers through which the knives pass; or I fix solid fingers
to the bar or beam and cut out the slots of the fingers in which the knives
are received; I further make the fingers of great depth below the knife to
prevent the contact of stones with the knife.
9th & 10th are improvements on a former Patent granted to me, No. 1148,
May 7th, in the year 1859. 9th consists of a swing bar or board, which may
be acted on by a spring, or fixed and placed over one of the driving strap
rollers of Specification of Patent aforesaid, its object being to hold the butts
of the corn while the straps are carrying the heads round to form the corn
into a swathe; and I also apply a vertical fluted roller to push the corn
backwards the breadth of the finger bar. 10thly, instead of mounting the
travelling wheel in a castor frame as in the Specification of Patent aforesaid, I
mount it on a bar or plate, which is attached to the framework at each end by
horizontal links of different lengths, so that in turning the machine the wheel
can assume positions in which it will pass over the ground without cutting
into it.
11 is a sledge for drawing the machinery sideways through narrow gates;
it consists of three pieces of wood of suitable length jointed together, this is
then put under the driving wheel as far as possible, the jointed pieces being
at the time at right angles to each other, or nearly so; the free ends are con-
nected by a chain; midway of this chain the team is yoked, which in the act of
drawing brings the jointed pieces into a triangular form, drawing the side

page_text: may
pieces under the wheel, and lifting the machine from the ground, over which
it be dragged sideways without injury to the ground or machine.
12th. This part of iny Invention relates to the peculiar adaptation and appli-
cation of the self-acting delivering rake for delivering the cut crop in sheaves
at the side of the machine. I dispose the finger bar in the rear of the driving
wheel, on which I mount an upright shaft, to which a triangular or other
shaped carrier is fixed,on this the self-delivering rake is mounted in bearings;
a horizontal arm is fixed to the top of the upright shaft, and connected to a
crank on the shaft of the driving wheel. As the driving wheel revolves the
upright shaft carrier and rake receive a reciprocating motion and describe a
quarter circle; the quarter of a circle embraced and described by the rake is
the form and extent of the platform of the machine, which has a high flange
placed round the curved edge, part of which leans inwards. The rake has
also a rising and falling movement; the shaft thereof being cranked and
mounted in bearings on the carrier before mentioned. The motion is effected
either by cams or arms fixed to the shaft of the rake, which strike against
projecting parts, or by segments of a grooved pulley fixed to the rake shaft,
to which chains are attached, and alternately pull in different directions to
produce the reverse motions required; a spring holds the rake in position when
it is raking the corn from the platform, from which spring it releases itself
before rising to return for another sheaf. The motion of the rake in rising
lowers a board or rod of about the same length as the rake, which prevents
the rake scattering the corn. I communicate motion to the driving crank of
this delivering apparatus so that the motion of the rake may be regulated
according to the crop, and so as to produce one delivery for each revolution of
the driving wheel, or at longer intervals. I arrange a foot board in connection
with the moving gear of the rake, by which the driver can throw it out of
gear when considerable time is required to elapse for the gathering of a sheaf,
this he does after the rake has risen, which he has notice of by the sound of a
bell or other indicating apparatus acted on by the rake, or otherwise.
13thly. I fix a toothed segment on the end of the draught pole, into
which is geared an endless screw mounted on the frame, its object being to
regulate the cutting height of the knife.
14thly. The last part of my Invention relates to the application of a
locking apparatus to the lever carrying the trucks between the main driving
cams, described in the Complete Specification of the Patent herein-before
referred to, and consists in locking such lever with the trucks disposed in
the bottoms of the fixed cam and so as to permit the free rotation of the
running wheel when disengaged from driving.

page_text: The arrangement according to my first improvement is represented in
side elevation of a reaping machine at Fig. 1, and partly in detached view
at Fig. 2. a is the bearing; is the frame, on which it moves either up or
down; is a bolt which holds it in position, when the machine is reaping
it is in the bottom of the frame, when mowing it is at the top, which keeps
the knife parallel to the ground in either position, grass being required to
be cut close to the ground, and corn about three inches above the ground-
The next part of my Invention relates to the jointed pole or shafts which
are fixed to the under side of the framework, which is also so represented
in Fig. 1. d is the shaft; E, the framework.
The next part of my Invention is represented in Figs 1 and 3, Fig. 3
being a plan of the reaper; it consists of a lever to regulate the height of
the cutters. is the lever, furnished with a spring catch y, which takes
into the holes of an arc, pin h holding it in any required position. Fig. 3*
represents a modified arrangement of this lifting and regulating lever, 1
being the fixed fulcrum, and el axis of the same fixed on the shafts.
The next part of my Invention relates to the gearing, which is represented
in the plan of the reaper Fig. 3, & detached at Fig. 4. is the pinion, which
is placed between the bearings j, j, and is held in gear by a driving clutch /,
or the pinion may be fixed and the clutch applied to the bevil wheel at the
end of the shaft, shown in dotted lines at Fig. 4.
The next part consists in covering the spur and pinion wheels to prevent
dirt getting into the teeth; this is shown in Fig. and Fig. 3. 6, 1, is the
covering, which I make of sheet iron, and so as to completely cover both the
wheel and pinion, which are represented through the cover by dotted lines
in Fig. 3.
The next part relates to the band rake, which I make with a cross or right-
angled handle about the middle of its shaft, as shown at Fig. 5. m is the cross
or right-angled handle,the main shaft being divided into two parts to receive it.
The next part of my Invention is another method for enabling the
Hussey reaping machine to be used for mowing. I make the finger barn,
platform, and travelling wheel p, shown at Fig. 3, to be readily detached
from the framework E, E, and fix another finger bar and knives to the frame-
work, with the fingers pointing in an opposite direction; the horses are then
yoked to the other end of the machine, as represented at Figs. 6 and 7, so
as to make it travel reversely to the ordinary direction.
The next part relates to the finger bars and fingers. I make the finger bars

page_text: ribbed on one or both sides, which is shown in cross section in the detached
views, Figs. 8 & 9. I form at one end of the bars a piece projecting back-
wards about the same thickness as the bar, which is shown in Fig. 3 by the
dotted lines at ', and detached at Fig. 10.
The next part relates to the knife bar; I make that part of it to which the
vertical sling and connecting rod are attached with two two holes instead of
one, as represented at Fig. 7; the hole for the connecting rod being shown
by the dotted lines p¹, p¹, to be parallel with the crank shaft q, while a hole
for a vertical sling is drilled horizontally.
2°
The next part is an improvement on an Invention for which I obtained a
Patent, No. 1148, and dated May 7th, in the year 1859; it consists in the
application of a swing bar or board placed over one of the delivery strap
rollers; it is represented in Fig. 12, which is a back view of the delivery parts
of the reaper, showing the swing bar or board 2*, which is hinged to a
standard q*, and acted on by a spring v, which allows it to swing, according to
the crop, to the position shown by the dotted lines. The object of this board
is to retain the butts of the corn while the angular running straps H, H, are
carrying round the heads of the corn to form it into a swathe.
Another improvement also on the Invention comprised by the former Patent
aforesaid consists in the application of a fluted roller mounted on a vertical
axis in bearings on the finger bar, disposed opposite the end of the strap roller
n, which carries the angular running straps H, HI, also represented in
Figure 12. The object of this roller is to push the corn backwards the breadth
of the finger bar, which allows it to fall readily on to the ground; s is the
revolving vertical fluted roller, and n*, n*, the delivery strap rollers.
The next improvement is in the travelling wheel, which, instead of mounting
in a castor frame as described in Specification of Patent aforesaid, I mount on
a plate, shown in Fig. 13; this plate is attached to the framework at each
end by horizontal links v, v; when the machine turns round at the corners of
the field the travelling wheel w takes the position shown by the dotted lines.
The next part refers to a sledge for drawing the machine sideways through
narrow gates, and consists of three pieces of wood a, a, a, Fig. 6, jointed
together and placed under the driving wheel y; the loose ends are connected
by a chain z, midway of which the team is yoked, which in the act of drawing
brings the jointed pieces a, a, a, into an angular form, shown by the dotted
lines, drawing the side pieces under the wheel y, and lifting the machine
from the ground, over which it may be dragged sideways without injury
to the machine or ground.

page_text: The next part relates to apparatus for delivering the cut crop at the side of
the machine in sheaves; it is represented in plan, Fig. 13, and in side eleva-
ion Fig. 14. a¹ is the driving wheel, which has a crank 61 fitted loose on
the shaft c; is an upright shaft, to which is fixed the carrier e, on which
the delivering rake F, F, is mounted in bearings g', g; H' is a horizontal arm
fixed to the top of the upright shaft d'; this arm is connected by a rod I to
the crank 6" on the shaft c" of the driving wheel a¹; as the driving wheel
revolves the upright shaft, carrier,and rake receive a reciprocating motion aud
describe a quarter circle j¹, j, j', which is the form and extent of the plat-
form of the machine on which the corn falls as it is cut; the rake makes
one delivery for each revolution of the driving wheel, unless more time is
required to elapse for the gathering of a sheaf, which extension of time is
performed as follows:-
Figs. 15, 16, & 17 are detached views of the crank "; Fig. 15 has a
groove at the side for receiving the forks of a clutch L, Fig. 14; Fig. 16
shows another view of the crank 6", which has a notch m¹ in it, which, when
on its shaft, receives a projection n", Fig. 15; this causes the crank to revolve
with the shaft, and allows it to be thrown out of gear by the driver pressing
his foot of the footboard o', Fig. 14, which has a spring p" under it, to bring
the crank again into gear after having remained stationary during one revolu-
tion of the driving wheel, which is the case if the crank is provided with one
notch, as shown at Fig. 16, but if provided with two notches as in Fig. 17, it
in that case remains stationary half a revolution of the driving wheel, which is
equal to the delivery of a sheaf at one, one and a half, or two revolutions of
the driving wheel. I arrange a bell & hammer q', 7, (see Fig. 14,) at the
side of the machine, which gives notice to the driver when to throw the delivery
apparatus out of gear. The rake has a rising and falling movement, which is
illustrated on an enlarged scale at Fig. 18. F shows an end view of the rake
and its cranked shaft,part of which s' is mounted and turns in bearings g; tis
an arm fixed to the part s¹ of the rake shaft, which strikes against projecting
fixed parts a, a, of the machine (see Figs. 13 & 18) and causes the rake to
rise and fall. The rake rises when it arrives near the extreme of its move-
ment in throwing off the sheaf, and by contact of t with 2, and falls after
returning over the platform by reason of the contact of t with a. When
it arrives behind the finger bar the rake turns about a quarter of a revolution
on its axis, and is held sufficiently stiff in its bearings, or is acted on by a
spring pressing alternately on two sides of a square on its axis, to keep it
firmly in the positions into which it is thrown; as the rake rises it lowers

page_text: an arm u, (Figs. 13 & 14,) which is cranked and mounted on an axis fitted
in bearings v', v, upon which axis an arm w¹ projects, the contact of the
delivery rake with which causes the bar to descend, and prevents the rake
scattering the corn.
To regulate the cutting height of the knife I use an endless screw y¹,
Fig. 14, which is mounted in a bearing or bearings fixed to the framework
of the machine; this screw acts on a toothed segment " fixed to the end
of the draught pole 21. By the action of this screw & toothed segment the
knife may be raised or lowered.
In Fig. 19 the toothed segment is dispensed with and a universal nut sub-
stituted, which answers the same purpose, and is lighter than the toothed
segment.
The last part of my Invention is illustrated at Fig. 12. a* is a lever,
which is connected by a slotted link 6* to the oscillating lever, comunica-
ting motion to the knife described in Specification of Patent aforesaid, for
the purpose of locking the lever and trucks c, d, in the bottoms of the
cams of the fixed wheel R, so as to permit the free rotation of the running
wheel S without driving the knife.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Bamlett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
ADAM BAMLETT. (L.S.)