44 



INDUSTRY 



chanical elements, not only of the reaping 

 machine, but largely of the modern self- 

 binding harvester. His machines were 

 so successful that, as late as 1864, they 

 were busy in the harvest fields of Eng- 

 land, and laid a swath more perfect than 



any implement used before them ; they 

 were followed by a troop of girls, the like 

 of which is still seen in the fields of those 

 sections of England and Scotland where 

 the modern self-binding harvester has not 

 yet found its way. 



The erstwhile Scotch student, when 

 working behind closed doors on the little 

 farm worked by his father, though in- 

 spired by high hopes, little dreamed that 

 be was in any measure laying the founda- 

 tion for greater results, and few, at the 

 present day, know that one of the most 

 essential elements of the modern self- 

 b)inding harvester was reduced to prac- 

 tice by that youth who as the Rev. 

 Patrick Bell administered to the spiritual 

 wants of the members of a little flock in 

 Scotland for many years. 



Two machines, at least, were brought 

 to America, but not until American reap- 

 ers had been perfected to such an extent 

 as to meet all of the requirements. 



Bell's machine was pushed before the 

 liorses, as modern headers are. Its reel 

 was supported by forwardly reaching 

 arms as now ; it had dividers and all es- 

 sential elements, the only faulty one be- 

 ing the cutting apparatus. 



The story of his efiforts. as told by him- 

 self, is interesting. The facts pertaining 

 to the construction of his machine may 

 be found in cyclopedias and in court pro- 

 ceedings. Although America is consid- 

 ered the cradle of this art, we must bow 

 to Bell and others and claim only that 

 which we have accomplished, founded 

 upon the information and machines thev 

 left. 



In the fishing village of Nantucket, on 

 the island of that name, of Quaker 

 parents, a boy first saw light who later 

 became famous because of his inventive 



talent. In that little village the whaling 

 industry, upon which success in life de- 

 pended, was extensively carried on. Like 

 other boys the lad, Obed Hussey, took to 

 the sea, but tiring, turned his attention to 

 a machine for reaping grain. He made a 

 model of the machine, and in 1832- 1833 

 constructed a machine which he operated 

 in the harvest fields near Cincinnati, 

 Ohio. He "builded better than he 

 knew," for his cutting apparatus sings 

 his praise in the harvest fields of every 

 continent, and will probably do so until 

 man ceases to exist. It has been modi- 

 fied in various ways, but no material im- 

 provement has been made since it left his 

 hands. 



His machine was a combined reaper 

 and mower. He placed his gearing car- 

 riage upon two wheels, — not a mowing 

 machine of the present day is constructed 

 otherwise. He jointed his cutting appa- 



ratus to the supporting frame in order 

 that the machine might conform to ir- 

 regularities of the surface of the ground. 

 Again it may be said not a mowing ma- 

 chine of to-day is constructed otherwise. 

 In order to adapt his machine to cutting 

 grain, a detachable grain receiving plat- 

 form was applied, and a stand for a raker 

 as well. As "manual delivery reapers" 

 thousands of such machines are made in 

 America and sent to Europe, where the 

 self-binding harvester has not yet won its 

 way. 



These four things were new: 



His cutting device ; 



His raker's stand ; 



The cutting apparatus jointed to the 

 gearing carriage ; and the 



Detachable grain receiving platform. 

 Limiting our inquiry to hand raking 

 reapers it is proper to say that this was 

 the culmination. 



No reaper has ever been made since 

 that time that did not have these elements 

 arranged as he had combined them. In 

 the face of historical facts, court decisions 



