IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bryco Brown, of 18, Cannon Street, and 148,
Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, for tho Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 26th February 1867, and dated the 4th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bryce Brown at
the Offico of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th September 1866.
I, JAMES BRYCE BROWN, of 18, Cannon Street, and 148, Upper Thames
Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in mowing machines. The
drums of mowing machines aro now commonly made of cast iron, such drums
are however heavy and more or less expensive.
Now according to my Invention I make these drums of porcelain, earthen-
ware, or similar plastic material, such drums are lighter and cheaper, and run
with less friction. Also where the drums are made of iron I coat them with
vitreous enamel, so as to reduce friction and improve the appearance of the
machine. The rollers also of mowing machines, which are now commonly
made of wood or iron, I make of porcelain, earthenware, or similar plastic
material; such rollers are less liable than wooden or iron rollers to accumulate
earth upon them in wet weather, and they also work with less friction.
Also

page_text: where the rollers are made of iron I coat them with a vitreous enamel. I
also make the handles of mowing machines of porcelain or earthenware. In
constructing mowing machines I also make the side frames and the drum
scraper and apron (which unite together these two side frames) by casting
them together in one piece, and by preference casting them either of malleable
or cast iron; by this means a strong frame is obtained at the same time that
the frame can be produced at less cost than heretoforo; or in place of the
whole of what is called the apron being cast with the side frames and drum
scraper the lower portion only of the apron may be cast therewith, and the
upper part made in a separate piece, which is then connected to the lower
piece in such a manner as to admit of the angle at which it is set being
adjusted in order to direct the cut grass into the grass box. In some cases I
also cast the stilts or bandles in one piece with the side frames, drum scraper,
and apron.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Bryco Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BRYCE BROWN, of 18, Cannon Street, and 148, Upper Thames Street, in the
City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Bryce Brown, Ier special licence that I, the said James Bryce
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Bryce Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to timo 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Bryce Brown, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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

page_text: the Great Seal Patent Offico within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Bryce Brown, 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:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in mowing machines. Tho
drums of mowing machines are now commonly made of cast iron; such drums
are however heavy and more or less expensive.
Now according to my Invention I make these drums of porcelain, earthen-
ware, or similar plastic material; such drums are lighter and cheaper, and
run with less friction. The drum as I prefer to construct it is a plain cylinder
of earthenware constructed in the same way as earthenware pipes are com-
only made, or it may be on a potter's wheel; care is taken in the burning
to prevent the roller warping out of shape. It is afterwards fitted with metal
ends which are secured by cement or otherwise; also where the drums are
made of iron I coat them with vitreous enamel so as to reduce friction and
improve the appearance of the machine. The drums are cast as heretofore,
and are then enamelled on the periphery in the same way as many articles of
cast iron are now commonly enamelled.
In the annexed Drawings, a, a, represent the drums. The rollers also of
mowing machines, which are now commonly made of wood or iron, I make of
porcelain, earthenware, or similar plastic material; such rollers are less liable
than wooden or iron rollers to accumulate earth upon them in wet weather,
and they also work with less friction. Rollers so made are shown at b, b, in
the Drawing, as will be seen; they are by preference made with the ends as
well as the peripheries of earthenware. Also, where the rollers are made of
iron, I coat them with a vitreous enamel as has been already described as
respects the drums; I also make the handles of mowing machines of porcelain
or earthenware. Such hurdles are shown in the Drawings at c, c; they aro
by preference moulded in dies by means of heavy pressure, as door knobs are
commonly made. In constructing mowing machines I also make the side
frames and the drum scraper and apron (which unite together the two side
frames) by casting them together in one piece; by this means a strong frame
is obtained, at the same time that the frame can be produced at less cost than
heretofore; or in place of the whole of what is called the apron being cast
with the side frames and drum scraper the lower portion only of the apron
may be cast therewith and the upper part made in a separate pieco which is
then connected to the lower piece in such a manner as to admit of the anglo

page_text: at which it is set being adjusted in order to direct the cut grass into the grass
box. The Drawings clearly represent the frame constructed in this manner,
the two side frames d, d, the drum scraper 6, and the lower part of the apron f
being cast altogether in one piece. The upper part f* of the apron may be
cast with the lower, but it is more convenient that it should be, as is shown in
the Drawing, secured to the other parts by bolts; the frame is then more
readily cast, and the apron can be adjusted if required. In some cases I also
cast the stilts or handles in one piece with the side frames, drum scraper, and
apron.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bryce Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. B. BROWN. (L.B.)