Germany Plows With Electricity 



Men are becoming so scarce that all 

 mechanical helps possible must be used 



TO such straits is Germany reduced 

 for men that she must make maxi- 

 mum use of the few who can be 

 kept at home to till the soil. Her diffi- 

 culty may be conceived when it is con- 

 sidered that even in time of peace 

 women had to plow, sow, and reap. Now 

 she has been compelled to adapt elec- 

 tricity to farm work. In the accompany- 

 ing illustration we show an electric plow 

 presenting many uncommon features. 

 Old Hans, sitting at the far end, one hand 

 on a steering wheel and the other on a 

 controller, regulates the speed of the 

 driving motor. This motor turns a 

 drum, over and around which passes a 

 chain stretching clear across the field 

 and anchored at the other end. The 

 chain simply goes around the drum and 

 then passes out at the back, remaining in 

 place until the machine again passes the 

 point, on the same principle as the 

 familiar capstan on a steamer. 



Current is delivered by means of two 

 trolley wires supported at short distances 

 along the ground. Reels at each end of 

 both the trolley wires and the chain keep 



all three reasonably taut. The reels are 

 mounted on little carts, so that they can 

 be moved sidewise as operations proceed 

 and the amount of plowed ground 

 increases. 



The machine does not need to be turned 

 around at the end of the furrow. Han3 

 simply draws the plows he has been 

 using up against the frame and adjusts 

 certain levers, whereupon the end he has 

 been using rises and the other end 

 descends. He then climbs to that end, 

 releases the trip of the other set of plows 

 which it carries, reverses his motor, and 

 is ready to go back again, the drum this 

 time pulling the other way on the chain 

 lying along the ground. Use of this 

 chain apparently gives better traction 

 than would ordinary driving wheels. 



This plow contains many ideas of inter- 

 est to those who follow tractor develop- 

 ment. The caterpillar tread is one way 

 of getting traction on soft ground. This 

 chain plan, however, would seem as good, 

 or even better, in special kinds of plowing, 

 owing to its smoother action and the 

 very positive drive. 



Hans has a great time plo \„ "n his electric piov. . It looks complicated but is quite 

 docile. How he turns around at the end of a furrow is indicated by the small sketch 



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