at the Plymouth Meetiufj. 403 



This is especially importaut in setting out iilougliing and in laying tlie tops or 

 crowns of ridges. Such is a short description of this simple attachment, which 

 we believe will prove very useful. We did not see the pomeltree at work, 

 but were informed by Mr. Eansome that they employ them at all their 

 jiloughing comjietitions, as the men decidedly prefer them to the ordinary 

 whippletree. Price 12s. M. 



A Combined Flax-break in cj and SadcJdnr/ Machine (No. 883), invented and 

 manufactured by George Parsons for the West of England Engineering and 

 Coker Canvas Company, appeared to us a combination deserving notice ; 

 simple, strong, portable, and not unreasomible in price, viz. 631. Should the 

 growth of flax ever again find favour witli the English farmers, and there are 

 sound arguments to recommend it, a portable machine to travel from farm to 

 farm during the winter and prepai'e the flax, leaving all the woody matter or 

 rather its ashes — for the refuse from the scutching mills goes a long way to 

 fuel the engine — on the land, would be a decided boon. The machine may be 

 described as consisting of a rectangular framework, on which, through the 

 centre and running from end to end, is a strong spindle, which carries four 

 scutching mills, and a jiair of fluted rollers for breaking the flax, the latter 

 preparing as fast as the mills can clear. Five men or women and one boy 

 would work the machine, and 4 cwt. of fibre can be dressed in a day. Three 

 to four-horse power is required to drive all the mills. 



Sketddey's Universal Joiner (No. 1957), exhibited by W. S. Underbill, is 

 likely to prove valuable on large estates, as it is capable of efficiently per- 

 forming the various operations of sawing, planing, moulding, tenoning, and 

 boring, and is so steady in its work that the table may be placed on the 

 ground without beina; fixed in any way. The saw table-frame is very strong 

 and fitted with a 2|-inch spindle and fast and loose pulley. The table top 

 has a rising and falling power of 9 inches, and the fence required in planing 

 or moulding runs the whole length of the table, moves back 11 inches, and 

 can be set to any angle. Attached and working on the fence is a slide clamp 

 for tenoning with adjusting screw, which will take in wood of any size up 

 to 11 inches by 8, and slide over the top of the saws. 



The planing disc— which is most ingenious — is 30 inches diameter, and cari'ics 

 G planes, which work when the wood is moved both backwards and forwards ; 

 it has been lately improved by the insertion of gouges to carry away super- 

 fluous wood. This disc replaces tlie largest saw, and the table and fence are 

 so adjustible that boards up to 11 inches wide and any thickness, from i to 11 

 inches, can be planed with the greatest nicety. 



The drunken saw, wliich works on the opposite end of the spindle, is 

 most useful ; for by a single operation, grooves can be made from \ to 2^ 

 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. The large saw will cut up to 12 inches. 

 The whole apparatus is' adapted for working up planks, into doors, window- 

 frames, floor-boards, &c. The planing was beautifully done, and with great 

 rapidity. We should perhaps notice that this machine is not entirely novel, 

 as it was exhibited at XewcKistle last year, but did not obtain the notice of the 

 Judges. We therefore considered ourselves justified in awarding a medal. 



Alfred E. Fierce — Stand No. 95 — exhibited such a variety of novelties 

 (24 in all), many of them somewhat crude, but displaying a considerable 

 ingenuity, that we were glad to be able to award a silver medal for his 

 collection of galvanised and japanned cattle-troughs, which were strongly 

 made and moderate in price, as well as handy to move about. Amongst 

 other curiosities was a Shepherd's House or Portable Granary (1174), con- 

 structed of self-supporting and bending corrugated galvanised wrought-iron. 

 The lap of the iron on the roof wanted a little alteration, otherwise this appears 

 a rather useful shepherd's house for the lambing season. In summer time 

 such a shed would get fearfully hot. Price 18?. 



