46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Your committee would rccomxaend that a diploma be awarded 

 for this machine. 



Signed, SOLON ROBINSON, 



N. H. GALE, 



Committee. 



Report on Improvements in Horse Shoeing. 



The special committee to whom was referred the subject of 

 examining the patent process for improvements in horse shoeing, 

 invented by Thaddeus Selleck, respectfully report : 



That they have examined the testimony of the usefulness of 

 this improvement and believe it to be of great importance and 

 value to the agricultural interests. 



Mr. Selleck's improvements consist in the use of Franklinite 

 metal instead of steel for the facing of the calks and toe pieces 

 of horse shoes. This metal fuses at so low a temperature that, 

 with the assistance of borax, it readily melts and combines with 

 the shoe. When so attached it is much harder and more durable 

 than steel itself, while the cost of application is much less, re- 

 quiring only the ordinary skill of the blacksmith for its use. 



From the copies of testimonials attached it will be seen that 

 in j)ractice shoes prepared as above with the " Franklinite," 

 wore much longer than others, and as the surroundings, iron, 

 wears, the hard Franklinite protrudes, and from its peculiar 

 hardness prevents slipping on ice, stones, etc. This invention 

 renders the changing of shoes less frequent, and therefore the 

 hoof is not required to be pared or cut unnecessarily often. It 

 is not in the province of this committee to treat of the great 

 advantages to arise from other uses of this metal in the arts as 

 this branch of the subject has been assigned to the Polytechnic 

 Club of the Institute, but it may be proper for them to suggest 

 that Mr. Selleck's invention will prove highly valuable for point- 

 ing and facing plows and agricultural implements generally, for 

 the points of contact in the links of chains and other surfaces 

 subject in use to friction, &c. 



Your committee Avould recommend that- the medal offered in 

 the recently published programme of the Institute, be awarded to 

 Mr. Selleck. 



Signed, ISAAC P. TRIMBLE, 



P. T. QUINN, 



Committee. 



