MEASURING f'""'""'''"- "^ 



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Figure 47. — T.ailor's square invented by Hiram Seger. Patent 2590, April 29, 1842. 



The patent specification provides a firsthand ac- 

 count that can often stand alone as a description of 

 an important routine activity such as farming or 

 fishing. With the drawing for David Smith's im- 

 proved hay rake (fig. 56) is his description of how to 

 use it. 



Cut the grain level with a cradle, or with a naked scythe 

 (if the grain is lodged) or otherwise; hitch a horse to the 

 ends of the ropes of the revolving rake Z. Z. Take hold of 

 the handle R and put it on the piece B; drive in between 

 two swathes. When the rake is full, a slight lift with the 

 hand will turn it over, and the back teeth now become the 



front. Put the handle R on the piece B. as before, fill again 

 as before, and so on through the field. On your return 

 stop opposite your first bunches on account of loading; 

 move the second or third row of bunches to make room for 

 a wagon or slide; take three or four pronged forks, either of 

 wood or iron, or steel, hold the prongs one above the other, 

 and stick the fork into the sides of these bunches. Two 

 hands to pitch together and one to load, can thus put the 

 grain on a wagon in less time than it would take them to 

 bind it. 



If the grain is to be stacked, the buts should be kept the 

 same way on both sides of the wagon. In stacking, keep 

 the middle full, and lay the buts nicely round the outside. 



P.APER 4f 



UNITED ST.ATES P.ATENTS NEW USES FOR OLD IDEAS 



145 



