IMPROVE- MENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Ball Parsons, formerly of Hoosick Falls,
New York, in the United States of America, and now of No. 77, Upper
Thames Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."-Partly a communication
from abroad by Walter Abbott Wood, residing at Hoosick Falls, New
York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 14th July 1863, and dated the 3rd March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Ball Parsons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd March 1863.
I, DAVID BALL PARSONS, formerly of Hoosick Falls, New York, in the
United States of America, and now of No. 77, Upper Thames Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
In constructing reaping and mowing machines according to this Invention
the frame of the machine is mounted on the axle of the carrying wheels so as
to be able to pivot thereon independently of the pole which is attached to
the same axle. The cutter bar is jointed to the front of the frame on one
side, and a lever is combined with the frame in such a manner that by means
of it the cutter bar may both be lifted a short distance without changing its
horizontal position so as to carry it over obstacles whilst it is at work, and

page_text: also may be turned up into a vertical or nearly vertical position, so as to reduce
the width of the machine for passing through gateways or narrow passages.
The lever is jointed at its lower end to the frame, and at a distance above the
centre a chain is attached, which is then passed over a pulley on the pole, and
afterwards attached to the fore part of the frame, then by moving the lever
the fore end of the frame is drawn up towards the pole and the cutter bar is
thus raised. When the lever is further depressed it comes against a stud
projecting up through the frame and pushes it down, and the lower end of
this comes against a projection from the cutter bar beyond its centre, causes
it to tilt up; or in place of causing the cutter to tilt by depressing the stud a
piece may be jointed to the inner end of the cutter bar so as to project beyond
its centre, the further end of this piece being connected with the pole by a link,
then, when the cutter bar is lifted by the lever as already described, the jointed
piece turns about its centre (the link preventing its further end rising), and
this goes on until the cutter bar has moved horizontally for a sufficient distance,
and then a shoulder on the jointed piece comes against a projection on the cutter
bar and renders the joint stiff, and then as the raising of the cutter bar is con-
tinued this bar is compelled to turn with the piece jointed to it, and thus it is
.tilted up as is required; or the lever may be caused to tilt up the cutter bar
by gearing the axis of the lever by means of bevilled tooth wheels mounted
on the frame at the front, and on one side with a second axis also mounted on
the frame at right-angles to the first axis, and formed with a crank at its end,
this carries a crank pin working in a slot in a connecting rod, which at its
other end is connected with the cutting apparatus. The slot in the connecting
rod allows the cutter bar to be raised or lowered horizontally a short distance
by means of the lever, and also to follow the inequalities of the land; but
when the lever is moved through a considerable angle the rotation of the
crank brings its pin to the end of the slot in the connecting rod, and then
'any further movement of the lever acts to tilt up the cutter bar; to prevent
'the cutter bar from depressing at its outer end when raising it horizontally any
of the well-known devices may be adopted. When the cutter bar is not
arranged to be raised and lowered horizontally whilst at work by pivotting the
frame on the axle as above explained, similar means may be employed for
adjusting the height of the cutters and cutting apparatus. The pole, which
as before is fixed to the axle, is connected in rear thereof, the frame which
rocks on the axle as before is connected at its rear end by a suitable adjustable
connecting link or piece with the continuation of the pole, and according as
the length of this connection is increased or decreased the cutter bar will be
raised or lowered: In order that the neck or axis of one of the running wheels

page_text: of a reaping or mowing machine may be capable of being adjusted to a higher
or lower position in respect to the framing of the machine such neck or axis
is fixed on a plate, which is fastened to the framing of the machine by a
suitable screw or bolt at a distance from the neck or axis, about which the
plate is capable of moving as on a centre. At the other side of the plate there
is a curved slot with another screw or bolt passing through it, and securing the
plate to the frame; by this arrangement the plate and also the neck or axis
thereon are, by merely slackening the screws or bolts, capable of being placed
in any desired position, and they are there screwed by screwing up the screws
or bolts.
In order to discharge the cut crop from the platform of a reaping or mowing
machine, I employ, as has been before proposed, a rake attached to and actuated
by an endless travelling band running round the sides of the said platform; the
rake is carried by the band along the back of the platform, and up one side, then it
passes along front of the platform, and in so doing gathers up the cut crop to one
side, and lastly, in returning along the other side of the platform it pushes off
the bundle or shock which it has gathered on to the ground at the back of the
platform. According to the present Invention, in order that such rakes may act
more effectually than heretofore and deliver the crop in more compact bundles
or shocks, I arrange it in the following manner :-The rake consists of a stem
with teeth at one end and with a flat board attached to it immediately behind
the teeth, and so as to stand vertically to the surface of the platform, this stem
is jointed at about the middle, and its further end is hinged at the back of the
platform, and on the side thereof at which the grain is discharged. The
discharge of the crop takes place at the corner when the rake is jointed, and
from the arrangement described it results that the cut crop having been
collected up against a board fixed at the side of the platform by the passage
of the rake across the front of the platform, is then by the teeth of the rake
drawn directly backwards, and at the moment of delivery the board on the
rake stem is parallel or nearly so with the side of the platform, and the
bundle or shock is nipped together between it and the side board, so that it is
delivered in a much more compact form than formerly, and the delivery is.
entirely at one corner of the platform in place of all along the back thereof
as formerly.
A platform is in some cases used consisting of several parallel boards with
open spaces between them, the back ends being unconnected. This platform
is hinged to the cutter bar and is capable of being raised to and held at a
proper angle from the land when receiving the cut crop, and of being lowered
downwards on to the ground when delivering the cut crop. When the

page_text: platform is lowered on to the ground the stubble projects up through the
openings in the platform, and entering in amongst the cut crop retains it
until the platform passes away from underneath. A bar or holding contrivance
is used with this platform. This bar when the platform is lowered on to the
ground is lowered also in such manner that it shall catch and hold the crop
that is being cut and prevent it falling on to the platform. When the plat
form is raised the bar is raised also, and the cut crop that was resting on it
falls on to the platform. The object of this arrangement is to keep the falling
grain separate from that which is being delivered on the ground, so that the
grain may be delivered in compact bundles, which would not be the case were
the grain allowed to fall on the platform, whilst the grain upon it is being
delivered on to the ground. The holding bar and the platform are actuated
by a treddle within reach of the foot of the driver.
In order that the cutters of reaping and mowing machines may not clog
when cutting crops in which there is a considerable quantity of dead bottom,
I, as has before been proposed, make the knives sufficiently long to cut up to
the points of the fingers or guards, these being for the purpose made in two
parts, an upper and a lower, and according to this Invention the guides for
the cutter bar are formed entirely by the lower parts of the fingers or guards,
whilst the upper parts, in order to avoid clogging, are kept at a distance from
the cutter bar, except just at the points of the knives where they are required
to support the crop whilst it is being cut.
The driving wheels of reaping and mowing machines are commonly made
with projections at their peripheries to give them sufficient hold on the land
to enable them to drive the cutter bar. These projections when the machine
is being drawn from place to place over hard roads cause it to be much shaken,
this I obviate by the use of a moveable tyre, which can be slipped on the wheel
over the projections and there secured and drawn up tight by screws.
In some cases in place of the axle of the main driving wheel being carried
by fixed bearings on the frame of the machine, as is usual, the bearings are
carried by brackets which at their forward ends are capable of turning around
an axis carried by bearings on the frame of the machine, this axis is the axis of the
pinion which receives motion from the toothed wheel which is fast on the axle
of the driving wheel, the brackets can therefore turn on this axis and yet the
wheels will always gear correctly together. From the axis which carries the
pinion motion is transmitted in the ordinary manner to the knife of the machine;
the brackets which carry the axle of the driving wheel have slots formed in
them at their rear ends, through these slots a bolt carried by the frame of the
machine passes, and the bolt can be clamped in any position in the slot, the

page_text: rear end of the frame and consequently the rear end of the platform which is.
carried by the frame can thus be raised or lowered and retained in any position
by the bolt. The opposite side of the platform to that which is connected to
the frame is supported by a wheel, the bearings of which are carried by a
similar bracket turning on an axis so that the wheel can be raised or.
lowered in respect to the frame; jointed to the frame near its front end
is a short plank which at its forward end is supported by a small castor
wheel, and at the front end of the frame is jointed a rod which rises
through a slot in the plank, this rod has holes formed through it, through
either of which and through a hole in the plank a pin can be passed, the
forward end of the frame, and therefore the cutter bar which is carried by it,
can thus be retained at any suitable elevation from the ground; the pole
of the machine is hinged to the forward end of the short plank above
mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Ball Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BALL PARSONS, formerly of Hoosick Falls, New York, in the United States
of America, and now of No. 77, Upper Thames Street, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Ball Parsons, Her special licence that I, the said David
Ball Parsons, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said David Ball Parsons, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," the result partly of com-
munications from abroad made to me by Walter Abbott Wood, a person
resident at Hoosick Falls, New York, in the United States of America, and
partly of Invention and discovery made by myself, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said David Ball Parsons, my executors or

page_text: 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 date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Ball Parsons, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
In constructing reaping and mowing machines according to this Invention
the frame of the machine is mounted on the axle of the carrying wheels, so as
to be able to pivot thereon independently of the pole, which is attached to the
same axle. The cutter bar is jointed to the front of the frame on one side,
and a lever is combined with the frame in such a manner that by means of it
the cutter bar may both be lifted a short distance without changing its hori-
zontal position, so as to carry it over obstacles whilst it is at work, and also
may be turned up into a vertical or nearly vertical position so as to reduce the
width of the machine for passing through gateways or narrow passages. The
lever is jointed at its lower end to the frame, and at a distance above the
centre a chain is attached, which is then passed over a pulley on the pole, and
afterwards attached to the fore part of the frame; then, by moving the lever,
the fore end of the frame is drawn up towards the pole and the cutter bar is
thus raised. When the lever is further depressed it comes against a stud
projecting up through the frame and pushes it down, and the lower end of
this comes against a projection from the cutter bar beyond its centre, causes it
to tilt up; or in place of causing the cutter to tilt by depressing the stud, a
piece may be jointed to the inner end of the cutter bar so as to project beyond
its centre, the further end of this piece being connected with the pole by a
link; then, when the cutter bar is lifted by the lever, as already described,
the jointed piece turns about its centre (the link preventing its further end
rising), and this goes on until the cutter bar has moved horizontally for a
sufficient distance, and then a shoulder on the jointed piece comes against a
projection on the cutter bar and renders the joint stiff, and then, as the raising
of the cutter bar is continued, this bar is compelled to turn with the piece
jointed to it, and thus it is tilted up as is required; or the lever may be
caused to tilt up the cutter bar by gearing the axis of the lever by means of
bevilled tooth wheels mounted on the frame at the front, and on one side
with a second axis, also mounted on the frame at right angles to the first axis,

page_text: and formed with a crank at its end; this carries a crank pin working in a slot
in a connecting rod, which at its other end is connected with the cutting
apparatus. The slot in the connecting rod allows the cutter bar to be raised
or lowered horizontally a short distance by means of the lever, and also to
follow the inequalities of the land; but when the lever is moved through a
considerable angle the rotation of the crank brings its pin to the end of the
slot in the connecting rod, and then any further movement of the lever acts to
tilt up the cutter bar: to prevent the cutter bar from depressing at its outer
end when raising it horizontally any of the well-known devices may be adopted.
When the cutter bar is not arranged to be raised and lowered horizontally
whilst at work by pivotting the frame on the axle, as above explained, similar
means may be employed for adjusting the height of the cutters and cutting
apparatus; the pole which, as before, is fixed to the axle, is connected in rear
thereof; the frame which rocks on the axle, as before, is connected at its rear
end by a suitable adjustable connecting link or piece with the continuation
of the pole, and according as the length of this connection is increased or
decreased the cutter bar will be raised or lowered.
In order that the neck or
mowing machine may be
axis of one of the running wheels of a reaping or
capable of being adjusted to a higher or lower position in respect to the
framing of the machine, such neck or axis is fixed on a plate which is fastened.
to the framing of the machine, by a suitable screw or bolt, at a distance from
the neck or axis, about which the plate is capable of moving as on a centre..
At the other side of the plate there is a curved slot with another screw or bolt
passing through it and securing the plate to the frame; by this arrangement
the plate, and also the neck or axis thereon, are, by merely slackening the
screws or bolts, capable of being placed in any desired position, and they are
there secured by screwing up the screws or bolts.
In order to discharge the cut crop from the platform of a reaping or mowing
machine I employ, as has been before proposed, a rake attached to and actuated
by an endless travelling band running round the sides of the said platform ;
the rake is carried by the band along the back of the platform and up one side,
then it passes along the front of the platform, and in so doing gathers up the cut
crop to one side, and, lastly, in returning along the other side of the platform, it
pushes off the bundle or shock which it has gathered on to the ground at the
back of the platform. According to the present Invention, in order that such
rakes may act more effectually than heretofore and deliver the crop in more
compact bundles or shocks, I arrange it in the following inanuer:-The rake
consists of a stem with teeth at one end, and with a flat board attached to it
immediately behind the teeth, and so as to stand vertically to the surface of the

page_text: platform; this stem is jointed at about the middle, and its further end is
hinged at the back of the platform and on the side thereof at which the grain
is discharged. The discharge of the crop takes place at the corner where the
rake is jointed, and from the arrangement described it results that the cut crop,
having been collected up against a board fixed at the side of the platform by
the passage of the rake across the front of the platform, is then, by the teeth
of the rake, drawn directly backwards, and at the moment of delivery the
board on the rake stem is parallel, or nearly so, with the side of the platform,
and the bundle or shock is nipped together between it and the side board, so
that it is delivered in a much more compact form than formerly, and the
delivery is entirely at one corner of the platform in place of all along the back
thereof, as formerly.
A platform is in some cases used consisting of several parallel boards with
open spaces between them, the back ends being unconnected. This platform
is hinged to the cutter bar and is capable of being raised to and held at a
proper angle from the land when receiving the cut crop, and of being lowered
downwards on to the ground when delivering the cut crop. When the plat-
form is lowered on to the ground the stubble projects up through the openings
in the platform, and entering in amongst the cut crop retains it until the
platform passes away from underneath. A bar or holding contrivance is used
with this platform. This bar, when the platform is lowered on to the ground,
is lowered also in such manner that it shall catch and hold the crop that is being
cut and prevent it falling on to the platform. When the platform is raised the
bar is raised also and the cut crop that was resting on it falls on to the plat-
form. The object of this arrangement is to keep the falling grain separate
from that which is being delivered on the ground, so that the grain may be
delivered in compact bundles, which would not be the case were the grain
allowed to fall on the platform whilst the grain upon it is being delivered on
to the ground. The holding bar and the platform are actuated by a treddle
within reach of the foot of the driver.
In order that the cutters of reaping and mowing machines may not clog
when cutting crops in which there is a considerable quantity of dead bottom,
I, as has before been proposed, make the knives sufficiently long to cut up to
the points of the fingers or guards, these being for the purpose made in two
parts, an upper and a lower; and according to this Invention the guides for
the cutter bar are formed entirely by the lower parts of the fingers or guards,
whilst the upper parts, in order to avoid clogging, are kept at a distance from
the cutter bar, except just at the points of the knives, where they are required
to support the crop whilst it is being cut.

page_text: The driving wheels of reaping and mowing machines are commonly made
with projections at their peripheries to give them sufficient hold on the land to
enable them to drive the cutter bar. These projections, when the machine is
being drawn from place to place over hard roads, cause it to be much shaken,
this I obviate by the use of a moveable tyre, which can be slipped on the
wheel over the projections and there secured and drawn up tight by screws.
.
In some cases in place of the axle of the main driving wheel being carried
by fixed bearings on the frame of the machine, as is usual, the bearings are
carried by brackets, which at their forward ends are capable of turning around
an axis carried by bearings on the frame of the machine; this axis is the axis
of the pinion, which receives motion from the toothed wheel, which is fast on
the axle of the driving wheel; the brackets can therefore turn on this axis,
and yet the wheels will always gear correctly together. From the axis which
carries the pinion motion is transmitted in the ordinary manner to the knife of
the machine. The brackets which carry the axle of the driving wheel have
slots formed in them at their rear ends; through these slots a bolt carried by
the frame of the machine passes, and the bolt can be clamped in any position
in the slot. The rear end of the frame, and consequently the rear end of the
platform which is carried by the frame, can thus be raised or lowered, and
retained in any position by the bolt. The opposite side of the platform to that.
which is connected to the frame is supported by a wheel, the bearings of
which are carried by a similar bracket turning on an axis, so that the wheel
can be raised or lowered in respect to the frame. Jointed to the frame near.
its front end is a short plank, which at its forward end is supported by a small
castor wheel, and at the front end of the frame is jointed a rod, which rises.
through a slot in the plank; this rod has holes formed through it, through
either of which and through a hole in the plank a pin can be passed, the
forward end of the frame, and therefore the cutter bar which is carried by it,
can thus be retained at any suitable elevation from the ground. The
pole of the machine is hinged to the forward end of the short plank above
mentioned.
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood and readily.
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the machine arranged for cutting
grass, the platform and reel being removed; Figure 2 represents a transverse
section through the cutting apparatus, showing more particularly the shape of.
the guards; Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the machine, shewing

page_text: the apparatus raised and held up above the surface of the ground, and by
dotted lines also shewing the cutting apparatus as raised up for transportation
or for passing obstructions. Figure 4 represents a detached portion of
the machine; and Figure 5 represents a modification of the same; both
of which devices will be hereafter more specifically referred to. Figure 6
represents a top plan of the machine as arranged for cutting grain
and delivering it in compact gavels upon the ground; the reel, platform,
and a holding apparatus being represented as attached, together with the
mechanism for operating the latter. Figure 7 represents in perspective the
platform or rack and the holding apparatus, together with the mechanism for
operating them, and their several connections with the main frame; the
gearing and other parts carried by or on the main frame being omitted.
Figure 8 represents a dividing shoe (with track board attached) different from
the one represented in Figure 1, made very similar to the guards, open at the
point, as herein-after described; Figure 9 represents in perspective a modifi-
cation in the manner of raising the cutter bar, also different ways of regulating
the height of cut, also a manner of arranging a platform for receiving the cut
grain; Figure 10 represents a side view of the platform, as represented in
Figure 9, and showing the manner of attaching it to the cutter bar; Figure 11.
represents in perspective a modification of the manner of delivering the cut
grain in compact gavels or bundles, the platform being omitted; Figure 12
represents a plan of the same with platform, and Figure 15 is a plan of a
modification of the same; Figure 13 represents in perspective a driving wheel
with a tire attached to facilitate transporting the machine from place to place
when not operating; and Figure 14 represents a side view of the same;
Figure 16 represents in perspective a modification of the manner of hanging
the axle of the driving wheel, of raising and lowering the back end of the
platform, and of regulating the height of cut.
Similar letters of reference where they occur in the several Figures denote
like parts in all the Drawings.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use this Invention I will
proceed to describe the same in connection with the Drawings.
A is a main frame supported and carried mainly by the axle B of the
carrying and driving wheels, to which it is suspended by bearers or boxes C,
so that it may swing on said axle; D is the tongue, to which the team is
hitched. This tongue is connected to the axle B by a collar a (in dotted
lines) attached to a plate b in a recess, in which plate the heel of the tongue
rests and is fastened. The axle B turns with the supporting and driving
wheels E, F, which may be arranged with ratchets and pawls in the usual well

page_text: known way, so as not to work the cutter when turning around or backing the
machine. On the axle B is a bevil gear G, that works with and gives motion
to a pinion H on the shaft I, and on the forward end of this shaft I is a crank
wheel J, to which one end of the pitman K is connected that drives the
cutters, as will be explained hereafter. It will be perceived that the bevil
gear G is on the axle B, and consequently always maintains a fixed position
in relation to its height above the ground, whilst the pinion H and shaft I are
connected to the main frame, and vary their position as to height as occasion
or the surface of the undulating ground may require, but as both the gear G
and main frame A have a common centre of motion, viz., the axle B, they
may occupy varying heights, and still remain and work in gear with each
other. The point of the tongue being attached to the horses' necks has a
general fixed height above the ground. The heel of the tongue being connected
to the axle B, maintains also a certain or fixed height above the ground, and
it may therefore be said of the tongue that it moves parallel with and at a
fixed height above the surface of the ground. On the tongue there is an
arm L, forked at its end, and to this arm is attached a chain c, by which the
forward end of the main frame can be suspended to said arm, the links of the
chain catching or holding in the forks of the arm, and thus the front end of
the main frame may be carried at any adjusted or regulated height above the
ground. To the forward right-hand corner of the main frame are connected
hangers d, d, to which a shoe M is attached by means of pins or bolts e passing
through said hangers and through lugs f formed on the shoe M, and at or
near the same part of the main frame is connected a lever N, by means of
which the main frame may be raised up and suspended to the tongue D, as
will be described. To the tongue is attached a projecting arm O, which
carrie a pulley g, and a chain, cord, or other flexible contrivance h, attached to
the lever N, passes over or around said pulley g, and thence to the front right-
hand corner of the main frame, where it is fastened, so that by drawing down
the lever the front end of the main frame is raised up, and by passing the end
of the lever under the catch piece i it may be held up. Projecting through
the main frame in the line of the sweep of the lever N there is a bolt or
standard j, which has connected to its lower end a piece of iron k (more
distinctly shewn in Figure 4); the part of this piece or hanger k at 7 rests
against the shoe M or the end of the finger bar P, whilst the part m thereof
is hinged or pivotted to the hangers, and when the lever N is brought down it
presses upon the bolt j, which in turn pressing down the part 7 of the hanger or
piece k, throws up the finger bar and cutting apparatus into the position shewn in
dotted lines in Figure 3, so that it may pass over any obstructions in its path.

page_text: As a modification of this operation, I have shown in Figure 5 another arrange-
ment of these devices by which the same effect may be produced as follows:-
The standard may be secured to the under side of the tongue D, and the
piece of the form shewn in said Figure 5 pivotted to the hangers at m¹, the
finger bar P pressing under a shoulder , which will brace and strengthen it.
As before stated the tongue having a fixed position as to height, the effect
of raising up the front end of the main frame will be as follows:-When the
shoe or the heel of the finger bar is drawn up against the piece it can go
no further, but by continuing to raise the main frame the outer end of the
finger bar and cutting apparatus connected to it will rise up into a position
such as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, or even higher if deemed necessary,
said finger bar and cutting apparatus being hinged to the main frame by the
hangers d, lugs f, and pins e, as heretofore described and clearly shown in
Figure 1. The cutting apparatus, including the finger bar, being thus made
capable of being raised up and held up by the lever N, may be turned up by
hand into a perpendicular position, and be caught and held by a catch piece n
attached to the main frame, and thus carried without danger of striking in
passing through gates or narrow passages, as also shown by dotted lines in
Figure 3. The catch piece n may be controlled by a spring o to keep it in
place. (Figure 3) is a guide piece for the pitman k to pass through, and
serves to protect the pitman from being injured or bent; q, q, are the sickles
or blades attached to the knive bar r, which knife bar may work in a groove s
formed in the top of the finger bar P, and held in place by pieces t, bolted to
the finger bar and projecting over and bearing upon the cutters. The guards or
fingers are of peculiar construction, and are best made of steel. They
are of a harp, bow, or U-form, very wide behind the finger bar, as will be
seen in Figure 2, so that everything will pass out and prevent choking up;
their points are tapered off so as to have a degree of elasticity, and they
terminate at or near the points of the blades q, approaching the blades nearest
at that point, but still leaving space enough to allow the cutters to clear
themselves of all choking or clogging matter. The guards are bolted to the
finger bar, and only come in contact with said fingers bar underneath, not
touching it in rear or on top (as seen in Figure 2). The fingers or guards in
front of the finger bar come up as high as the bottom or under side of the blades
as shewn. R is outside shoe or divider having a track clearer S pivotted
or hinged to it with a handle T, by which it may be raised up. When
constructed as in Figure 8, this shoe is made open at point and similar to the
guards. U is the driver's or conductor's seat.
In Figure 9 is shewn another device for raising the cutter bar, which I

page_text: will now describe. In this Figure but one driving wheel is represented, E¹
being a smaller wheel and not necessarily placed in the same position as E in
Figure 1. In this Figure also the cutter bar P₁ is fastened firmly to a
shoe M', which is hinged at e¹ to a plate d, fastened firmly to the corner of
the frame A". N¹ is a lever used for raising the cutting apparatus; h¹ and h
are small bevil pinions, h¹ being fast to the cross shaft b', to which the lever is
firmly attached, and h" to the crank shaft, to the other end of which the
crank c is firmly attached; w" is a rod hinged to the shoe M' at g'. At the
other end of this rod there is a loop n¹, through which the pin o', projecting
from the end of the crank c¹ passes. The action of this device is as follows:-
The frame is raised horizontally by means of the chain passing over the pulley
attached to the pole in precisely the same manner as before described. By
drawing back the lever N¹ the crank c¹ is raised, and when the pin o¹ arrives
at the end of the loop n', the force is communicated to the cutting apparatus
P¹ at g', which is made to raise and vibrate about the joint e¹. To prevent
the cutter bar from falling at the cutter end while it is being raised horizon-
tally any of the well-known devices may be adopted. The loop n¹ allows the
cutter bar to work up and down independent from the lifting apparatus.
Another method of regulating the height of cut or raising the cutting
apparatus is shewn in Figure 9, which I will proceed to describe. The wheel E'
revolves on a stud C. This stud is fastened to the frame by means of the
bolts q and q. By loosening the bolts q' and q" the stud C¹ may be vibrated
about the bolt q', the bolt q" working through the slot r¹, and fastened at any
desired height by tightening the bolts q¹ and q". By lowering this stud upon
the frame the cutting apparatus may be raised upon the wheels E' and E".
By pushing down the back
wheels E and F, and the
hooked to the top of the
Another device for raising and lowering the cutters is shewn in Figure 9.
It will be observed that the driving wheel F¹ is hung on the fixed axle B". To
this fixed axle is attached the pole D', to which the power is hitched; this
pole works up and down freely upon the axle B", and extends back beyond the
back of the frame A", and is confined by and extends through a staple s",
which is fastened in the back part of the frame.
side of the frame, the cutters are raised upon the
hook hung to the pole by the bolt u', may be
staples (as shewn in the red lines), thus securing the cutting apparatus in its
raised position. When this machine is arranged for cutting and delivering
grain in gavels or bundles in a compact form on the ground behind the
machine, it will bear the appearance as indicated in Figures 6 and 7, it having
added to it a reel V, a rack or slotted hinged platformm W, a holding apparatus X,

page_text: and the devices for operating it, and the rack or platform, and a grain board Y
and outside carrying or supporting wheel Z. To operate the platform and
holding apparatus, a treadle v may be placed in convenient position on the
main frame, so that the driver or conductor from his seat may readily operate
it with his foot. To this treadle v is attached a rod w, that is also attached to
a wrist or crank x on a rock shaft y at the rear of the main frame. To another
crank z on the opposite end of the rock shaft y is attached a rod 1 that reaches
forward, and is united to an arm 2 of a bell-crank lever attached to the shaft 3,
arranged behind the finger bar, said shaft carrying the slats that form the rack
or platform W. To the other arm 4 of the bell crank is attached a link or
rod 5, which connects it with the bail or holding apparatus X, that is pivotted
or hinged to the reel supports A¹, B', at the points 6, 7. This bail or holding
device may be a thin bar of iron bent round into a form shewn in the
Drawings, and is designed to catch and retain the falling grain or straw whilst
the gavel previously gathered is being delivered on to the ground from the
platform or rack W.
The operation of this holding mechanism and delivering mechanism is as
follows: Whilst enough grain or straw is being collected on the rack W to
form a gavel, it as well as the bale or holding contrivance are raised up, the
rack being raised up to prevent the stubble from catching and drawing off the
grain or straw, and the bale or holder is raised up so that the severed and
falling grain or straw shall not catch upon it. When enough straw to make a
gavel is collected on the rack, the operator who has set with his foot pressed
upon the treadle v to hold it down removes the pressure and the weight of the
rack, and the load upon it causes it to drop, and at the same time (because
connected with it) the bale or holder X drops. The stubble protruding up
through the spaces between the slats of the rack catch, the straw or grain lying
thereon, and holds it whilst the rack is drawn out from under it by the
advancing motion of the machine, and whilst this delivery is going on the bale
or holder X is catching and holding the straw or grain that is being cut.
When the gavel is delivered the operator again presses forward and downward
the treadle v, which raises both the bale and the rack, and what straw or grain
was resting upon the bale or holder falls upon the platform to form the next
gavel and the next similar operation. The black lines in Figure 7 represent
the parts just above described in the position in which they are when collecting
a gavel, and the red lines shew their several positions when the gavel is being
delivered on to the ground. The object is to keep the falling grain separate.
from that which is being delivered on to the ground, for it is obvious that if.

page_text: the grain or straw combines to fall upon the gavel whilst the gavel is being
delivered on to the ground, the straw will be dribbled along over the ground,
and a compact gavel cannot be made and left behind the machine.
When this machine is arranged for cutting and delivering grain at the side
in compact gavels, the apparatus for delivering will bear the appearance as
indicated in Figures 11 and 12. O" and K" are two arms of an elbow sweep
hinged to each other at d"; one end of this elbow sweep is fastened to an
endless belt 6, which passes around the pullies c", placed at the corners of
the platform for receiving the cut grain. Motion is given to this band
through a system of gearing in a direction indicated by the arrow, which
causes the rake to travel about the edge of the platform; the other end of the
elbow sweep is hinged to the upright standard 9" at a sufficient height so that
the elbow sweep may not interfere with the falling or cut grain at the point e¹¹,
as this elbow sweep with the projecting teeth m" attached to the extreme end
of the rake H" passes along the lower side of the platform, it gathers the cut
grain and carries it against the grain board I". As it passes along the left-
hand side it takes the grain with it, and discharges it in a gavel at the side of
the machine. By hanging this elbow sweep at e¹¹ on that side of the machine,
its action will be such that the end s¹ of the rake board H" will, while it is
removing the bundle or gavel, gradually swing around to the left, so that the
rake head H" will assume a position parallel, or nearly so, to the grain
board I", or with the line of the advancing motion of the machine at the
moment it discharges the grain from the platform, as shewn in the Diagram.
In Figure 15 the rake is made to slide through a slot in a swivelling block X'
attached to the left-hand side of the machine, instead of being jointed as
before described.
In Fgures 13 and 14, L' is a tire or band placed upon the projections v
upon the outer surface of the wheel F', and fastened at the points n¹¹ by
means of a key or otherwise. By this device the wheel F" will roll upon
the tire or band L' instead of upon the projections v₁, when transporting
the machine from place to place; this tire may be made wider, and
employed at advantage when working on soft or wet land. In Figure 16
the frame and gearing are supported by the driving wheels F³, and the ground
wheel E, and the castor wheel S. The plank T', to which the castor wheel S¹ is
attached, is hinged to the frame at y', a point between the axle of the driving
wheel F and the cutting apparatus P2. In the castor plauk T¹ there is
a slot a¹, through which slides the rod på fastened to the lower end V₁ of the
frame A. In the upper end of the rod p² there are bolt holes o'. By causing
the frame to vibrate on the axles of the driving and ground wheels, the cutting

page_text: apparatus P is raised and lowered, the rod p³ working through the slot x¹ in
the castor plank T', and may be fastened at any desired height by passing the
bolt through the castor plank and one of the holes o' in the rod p³. The
pole P is hinged at the end of the castor plank, and may be made to work
freely up and down. The axle S' of the driving wheel F is firmly fastened to
the slotted pieces X2, X*, which are socketted or hinged to the axle R¹ of the
toothed wheel Y', and may be made to vibrate about said axle R¹. The
toothed wheel Z, carried on the driving wheel F and having the axle S³ as a
centre, works with and communicates motion to the toothed wheel Y. The
bolt y³ passes through the slots in the irons X2, X, and also through the
frame A³, and is furnished with a nut at the end. By tightening this nut the
irons X2, X², may be clamped firmly to the frame A³. The ground wheel E³
is hung to a stud C2 fastened to the frame at the opposite side from the driving
wheel F³; this stud may be made to vibrate on the bolt q³, and has a slot r³ at
its opposite side, through which the bolt q* passes and screws into the frame.
The axle on which the wheel E³ turns is between the bolts and 9. By
loosening the bolts q, q', and y³, the back end of the platform W³ may be
raised and lowered, the irons X2, X³, vibrating on the axle R', and the stud C²
vibrating on the bolt q', and may be fastened at any desired height by tightening
the bolts g, q', and y*, thus altering the relative position of the axles S and
stud C³ with the frame of the machine without deranging the gearing.
What I claim is, first, in combinatian with a hinged finger bar, the hanger
or foot k, whether acted upon by the lever N or connected to the tongue B,
as herein described, for the purpose of supporting, raising up, or holding up
the finger bar and cutting apparatus, substantially as described.
Secondly, I claim the use of the harp or bow shaped guards in connection
with a cutting apparatus for the purpose of preventing the clogging of the
cutters, substantially as described.
Thirdly, I claim a bale or holding apparatus X or its equivalent for
catching and holding the falling grain or straw whilst the gavel or bundle is
being delivered on the ground, and to prevent them from catching, tangling,
or dribbling, substantially as described.
Fourthly, I claim a hinged and slatted rack or platform W or its equivalent,
for the purposes and constructed and operated in the manner substantially as
described.
Fifthly, I claim the combination of the bale or holder X, with the rack
or slatted platform W, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as
herein set forth.
Sixthly, I claim iu combination with the bale or holder X and the slatted

page_text: rack W, a mechanism extending to or near to the driver or conductor's
seat, so that with his foot or hand he may operate the same, substantially as
described.
Seventhly, I claim in connection with a binged finger bar the looped
rod wand the crank c', worked by a lever or otherwise, substantially as
described, for turning up or raising the finger bar and allowing the cutter
bar to work up and down freely independent from the lifting apparatus, as
described.
Eighthly, I claim an adjustable stud C¹ to a wheel of support E' capable of
being raised or lowered through a slot about a fixed point q', and fastened
by means of the bolt q³ at any desired height for the purposes of raising or
lowering and fastening the cutter bar, substantially as described.
Nintbly, I claim the hinging a pole D' of a mowing machine to the frame
thereof, and allowing it to extend back and rest upon the back part of the
said frame for the purpose substantially as herein set forth.
Tenthly, I claim the hanging the fixed end of an elbow sweep or
rake 0, K, at or near the corner of the machine at which the grain is dis-
charged, for the purpose and in the manner substantially as herein set forth.
Eleventhly, I claim the attaching a swivelling block X' through which a
straight armed rake passes to the side of the machine at which the grain is
discharged, in the manner and for the purposes as herein described.
Twelfthly, I claim a tire or belt placed upon the projections on the outer
surface of the driving wheel which comes in contact with the ground, for the
purpose and in the manner substantially as herein described.
Thirteenthly, I claim the peculiar combination of supporting the frame and
cutter bar P (Figure 16) attached thereto upon the driving wheel F³, O',
and the ground wheel F, and hinging one end of the plank T' to the frame
between the axle S' of the aforesaid wheel F and the outer bar P2, and sup-
porting the other end of said plank T upon the castor wheel S', in order that
the lower end of the frame to which the cutter bar P is attached may be
raised or lowered, and fastened to the plank T' through the agency of the
iron p² and bolt &³, or any convenient devices at any required height.
Fourteenthly, I claim the combination of the slotted stud C and the slotted
bearings X, X2, of the driving-wheel axle made capable of sliding up and
down and fastening at any position on the frame, and the hinging or socketing
said bearings X, X, to the axle R', by which the back end of the frame
may be raised or lowered and fastened at any height without deranging the
gearing.
I claim the socketting or hinging the bearings X, X2, of the axle S2 of the

page_text: driving wheel to the axle R¹ of the toothed wheel Y', which works with the
toothed wheel Z, carried by the driving wheel F2, so that the axle S³ of the
driving wheel may be made to vibrate on the axle R' without disturbing
the working of the gears X¹ and Y¹
In witness whereof, I, the said David Ball Parsons, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
DAVID B. PARSONS. (LS.)