1^(3 On Thrajhing Machines. May- 



board at the level of the centre of tlie Jkutdicrs, raid drawn in 

 by two fluted rollers. The operations of the machine were very 

 defective •, and as little corn could be palled at a time, the expence 

 of thrafliing was greater than if executed by the common flail. 



The principles, upon which the machine was conilrutled, were 

 evidently erroneous. The form of the fkutchers ufed, and the 

 way in which they were fixed, were fuch, that their reverberations 

 would neceflarily weaken the force of the flroke fo much, as to 

 require an exertion of greater power. To give an extra power, 

 however, was impracticable ; for if one Iralf of the velocity of 

 the machines now ufed had hzcn given, the fkutchers would in- 

 ilantly have broke to pieces, and occafioned the total deftructioii 

 of the implement, belides endangering the lives of thofe employ- 

 ed in working it. 



From thefc things it may be deduced, tJiat velocity formed no 

 part of the principles of this machine, and that it could not liave 

 been iuccefsfully ufed without material alterations. But this is not 

 all. The relative fituation of the feeding rollers and Ikutchers 

 was fuch, that the utility of the former was in a great meafure 

 defeated. Their purpofe is to draw the corn gradually forward, 

 and to hold it firm when the flroke of the ikutcher is given ; 

 but the dillance betwixt them prevented tlie latter objc6t from 

 being accomplillied. Another defecL, and a material one, was 

 the Vv^ant of a drum, which is abfolutely necelTary to prevent the 

 corn from flying about the houfe, and the flraw and chaff from 

 clogging the machinery to which the fkutchers are fufpended. 

 The abandonment and deftruction of this machine, however, 

 proves its inefncacy better than the ftrongell: arguments, and the 

 niofl fatisfactory human tellur.o:iy. 



This macliine was never mi:de public ; and I believe that Mr 

 Oxlcy was very fliy in Ihowing it to flrangers. The particulars, 

 which I now give, were communicated by a mill-wright at New- 

 caftle, who aflifted in taking it down \ and, being corroborated 

 by information from, others, may, i think, be fully depended up- 

 on. 



Havuig detailed feveralof the unrucccr.-.ful attempts to conflruct 

 a machine capable of tlirallnng, I come with plcafure to narrate the 

 circumflanccs which led to the conllru6tion of tlie machine now^ 

 in general ufe. Every former attempt having failed, (and this does 

 not require any proof, feeing that all the old machines are laid a- 

 fide), unqueflionably the merit of the invention appertains to the 

 gentleman whom I am fhortly to mention. 



The late worthy Sir Francis Kinloch Bart, of Gilmerton, who, 

 as it is well known, poiTcfied a large flock of mechanic.d knov.- 

 ]edge, in one of his tours through Northumberland, happened to 

 fee the machi.ic creeled by Mr lideiton, at his farm near Aln- 



^vlck, 



