A MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND REAPING CORN, CORN CROPS, AND OTHER PLANTS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier (Doctor), of
the Town of Aigle, in the French Empire, for the Invention of
"A MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND REAPING CORN, CORN CROPS, AND
OTHER PLANTS."
Scaled the 29th September 1858, and dated the 11th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marie Pierre
Ferdinand Mazier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 11th May 1858.
T, MARIE PIERRE FERDINAND MAZIER (Doctor), of the Town of
Aigle, in the French Empire, lo hereby declare the nature of my
Invention of "A MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND REAPING CORN, CORN CROPE,
AND OTHER PLANTS" to be as follows:-
My machine consists of a wooden frame furnished with shafts and
carried by a pair of wheels, which are so attached to their axis as to
cause it to turn with them when the apparatus is moving forward, but
not when the motion is in the opposite direction. Another frame,
which carries the cutters, the platform for the crop, and the apparatus
connected therewith, is placed behind the first-mentioned frame, and

page_text: attached to it by means of a pin joint, which allows the cutters to
follow the irregularities of the ground, and also to be raised entirely off
the land when out of use. On the axis of the leading wheels is fixed
a wheel, which works into aud turns a screw on an upright shaft, on
the lower end of which is keyed a bevil wheel which works into another
bevil wheel on a horizontal axis, which is jointed so as to turn in any
direction, and has a crank at its further end, which is connected to and
works a saw cutter backwards and forwards. Over the cutters is placed
a fan wheel of the ordinary description for laying the corn towards the
platform, which platform has a sliding motion backwards and for-
wards to carry the corn from the cutters, and to lay it in sheaves on
the ground. The machine is also so arranged that the cutters, and the
parts connected therewith, may be transferred from one side of the
machine to the other, so as to cut on the right or left band side, as
required. When the machine is not in operation the machinery can
be disconnected from the wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
liled by the said Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier, in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 11th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, T.
MARIE PIERRE FERDINAND MAZIER (Doctor), of the Town of Aigle.
in the French Empire, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors.
give and grant unto me, the said Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier,
Her special licence that I, the said Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier.
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Maric Pierre Ferdinand Mazier, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time

page_text: 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 "A MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND
REAPING CORN, CORN CROPS, AND OTHER PLANTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should parti-
cularly 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 Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My machine consists of a wooden frame furnished with shafts, and
carried by a pair of wheels which are so attached to their axis as to
cause it to turn with them when the apparatus is moving forward, but
not when the motion is in the opposite direction. Another frame,
which carries the cutters, the platform for the crop, and the apparatus
connected therewith, is placed behind the first-mentioned frame, and
attached to it by means of a pin joint, which allows the cutters to follow
the irregularities of the ground, and also to be raised entirely off the
land when out of use. On the axis of the leading wheels is fixed a
wheel which works into and turns a screw on an upright shaft, on the
lower end of which is keyed a bevil wheel which works into another
bevil wheel on a horizontal axis, which is jointed so as to turn in an
direction, and has a crank at its further end which is connected to and
works a saw cutter backwards and forwards; over the cutters is placed
a fan wheel of the ordinary description for laying the corn towards the
platform, which platform has a sliding motion backwards and for-
wards to carry the corn from the cutters, and to lay it in sheaves on
the ground. The machine is also so arranged that the cutters, and the
parts connected therewith, may be transferred from one side of the
machine to the other, so as to cut on the right or left hand side, az

page_text: required. When the machine is not in operation the machinery can be
lisconnected from the wheels.
Figure 1, is an elevation; and Figure 2, is a plau of the reaping
machine. A, is a wooden frame or carriage, on which is fixed the
seat A', which serves also as a box for holding tools, &ct; to this
carriage A, is fixed by means of bearings the axle B, on the ends
of which are the wheels C, which in one direction turn freely on the
axis, but in the other direction are prevented by clicks from turning
without turning with them the axle B. Behind the carriage A, is
attached the following carriage E, by means of the rods D, on the
ends of which are eyes which slip on to pins on the frame A.
The horse drawing by the shafts F, causes the wheels C, to turn,
which carry with them the axle B, by means of the clicks shown at
Fig. 3; but if the horse backs, the wheels turn without the axle.
On the axle B, is mounted the wheel (6), which works into the
screw c, on the axis d, which axis has at its upper end a fly-wheel
The axis d, carries at its lower end a bevelled wheel f, which works
into a bevelled pinion g, of which the axis h, is connected at i, by a
double pin joint to the axis j, as shown in the detail Drawing, Figure 4*,
which axis j. is sustained in the bearing K. At the end of the axis j,
(Fig. 2, et 5,) is a crank n, which by means of a connecting rod m,
gives motion to the bar p, which carries the saw q, which in its back-
ward and forward motion slides in the guides r; the saw y, with its
frame, is also sustained at the two ends by the supports; the
crank n, and the connecting rod m, work in a cast iron case s, Fig. 2,
to which are attached the guides 1, and the guards t, of the saw y.
Figure 3, shows one of the wheels C, and the ratchet by means of
which motion is given to the axis when the wheel revolves in one
direction, and not when it revolves in the other. Figure 4, shows in
detail the various parts by which notion is communicated to the
axis j', Figure 4; this shows again the axis d, complete with its fly-
wheel e. Figure 5, is a plan, partly in section, of the parts by which
motion is communicated from the axle B, to the saw 7. Figure 6,
is a view of the following carriage E, with all the working parts
removed. Figure 7, shows one of the rods D, which connect the

page_text: following carriage E, to the carriage A. Figure 8, shows a front view
of the mounting of the saw.
Manner of working the apparatus:-When it is wished to take the
machine to the field the following carriage E, is raised by means of
the roller and cord u; (Figures 1, et 2,) the crank handle of which
is turned by hand. The horse is put into the shafts; the wheels C, of
the carriage turn, and with them the axle B; but the incchanism is
set free by means of the handle X, which draws the upper bearing of
the axis d, along the slot I, in the framing, and thus removes the
screw e, from the teeth of the wheel b. When the machine has
arrived on the field the apparatus is thrown into gear, and the corn
is cut on the side to which it inclines, so that it falls by itself on to the
platform y, which is attached, and slides on the ground behind the saw.
When a sufficient quantity of corn has fallen on the platform, a person
who follows the machine presses down on the corn, which is thus de-
posited on the ground, and two women who follow the machine place
the corn on one side to allow room for the machine to return. While
the machine is cutting the first portion a roller, made of light wood,
and which is suspended from the long cross piece H, lays the crop to
the former angle to be cut most advantageously on the return of the
machine. On arriving at the end of the field the following carriage
E, is raised by means of the roller u; the platformy, & the roller, arc
then detached; the horse is then caused to turn the machine round,
and the saw, and the apparatus connected therewith, is turned over to
the other side of the machine, and the platform y, and the roller, are
reattached.
The machine, as shown, is so arranged that when at work about
1200 oscillations are given to the saw per minute, which is about the
velocity which is preferred. This machine will reap a space 60 yards
long and 1 yard wide in a minute, which is equal to from 7 to 9 acres
per day.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details described; but what I claim is,

page_text: 1st, the employment of a following carriage for carrying the cutter,
and the apparatus connected therewith, as herein described. 2ndly, the
manner of giving motion to the cutter from the axle by means of
a screw and wheel. 3rdly, the employment of a roller in connec-
tion with the machine for laying the crop in the right direction
to be cut, as herein described. 4thly, the so arranging reaping ma-
chines that the cutters may be placed on either side of the machine,
so as to enable the machine to reap both going and returning. 5th,
the manner of arranging the apparatus so that when the machinery is
backed the wheels turn without working the machinery. 6thly, the
manner of lifting the following carriage when not at work. 7th, the
peculiar arrangement by which the machinery is thrown out of action
when the machine is travelling.
In witness whereof, I, the Marie Pierre Ferdinand Mazier,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day
of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-three.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGANELL
Ing., No. 6, Rue des Filles
du Calvaire, à Paris.
M. P. F. MAZIER. (L.S.)