17 



was so constructed that for the binder attachment a device niij^ht bo 

 substituted to elevate the corn into a wagon. 



The principle in corn harvesters and binders which was destined to 

 prevail was invented by A. S. Peck, of Geneva, 111., and patented 

 Januar}^ 5, 1892. It consisted of a corn luirvester with the two 

 dividers passino; one on each side of a row of corn, which was cut and 

 carried back in a vertical position to the binder attachment by means 

 of chains and gathering arms. A standard twine binder was used, 

 set in a vertical ]K)sition so as to receive the stalks and keep them in 

 this position until the bundle was discharged. The horses were 

 hitched, behind the machine the same as thev are on the header or 



i IG. 10. — An early corn harvester. 



push binder. The machine is shown in figure 11, in operation in 

 the field. 



The Peck patent received very little attention at first. It showed 

 very few elements that were new, as the vertical principle of cutting 

 grain had been tried and failed to give satisfaction. It was rather 

 a rearrangement of well-known principles used in harvesting 

 machinery than a new departure. Still it was the collection of these 

 principles in proper form which produced a successful machine." 

 After two years' use by the inventor and a few other persons, its 

 merit was recognized by one of the prominent harvester manufacturers. 



In the perfection of farm implements there are usually two stages 

 of development. The first covers the conception of the idea and the 

 12211— No. 173—07 3 



