SPECIAL MERITS OF EXHIBITS. 137 



soft ground. Spur gearing is used in the compensating gear inRtead of bevel, as is 

 usual. A gang of plows intended to be operated by this engine was detained on 

 the road, and were not received in time to be exhibited. 



Portable Engine, by Nichols, Shepnrd & Co., Battle Creek, Mich.; W. S. McMilkn, 

 Manager, Indianapulis. This engine has a locomotive boiler, with water front and 

 bottom to fire-box, and extra lieavy fine sheets, and all made of the best quality of 

 iron, with firstc-lass workmanship. Copper thimbles are used at the fine ends in 

 the fire-box, which, with the extra thickness of sheet, it is claimed, reduces their 

 liability to leak to a minimum, and, consequently, avoids the deterioration that 

 takes place so rapidly from corrosion on leaky surfaces. The engine is well con- 

 structed of the best material, and is placed on the side of the boiler, on a good bed, 

 in a convenient position for handling and caring for. It has a good pump, worked 

 from the cross-head, and is provided with all necessary fittings of the best quality. 



Knebel Engine, by Rice, Whitacre & Co., Chicago, III. This is a new style of ver- 

 tical engine, very simple in construction, and has few part to look after and keep in 

 order. The cylinder is supported on trunnions, on which it vibrates. The piston- 

 rod is connected directly to the crank, without the intervention of cross-head or 

 connecting rod, and has no eccentric or rod. The admission and exhaust of steam 

 is effected by the vibration of the cylinder by means of a valve which is connected 

 to lower end of cylinder, which has a curved convex face, which is a segment^of a 

 «ircle concentric with the trunnions, and has openings, or ports, through it that 

 communicate with either end of the cylinder. A sort of steam-chest has a concave 

 face, and makes a joint with the valve, and is held up to its place against it by 

 springs, and has a pipe, or opening, through it for admission of steam, while an 

 annular opening around the steam pipe allows the passage of exhaust steam. In 

 operation, the rotation of the crank vibrates the valve on the end of the cylinder 

 until, at the proper time, a port is over the steam pipe, or opening, and steam is 

 admitted to one end of the cylinder, at the same time bringing the port of the other 

 «nd over the exhaust opening, which movement is alternated between the two sides 

 of the piston-head as the crank rotates. 



Tniclion Engine, by the BirdsaU Company, Auburn, N. Y., C. E. Merrifield, Agent, 

 Indianapolis. This engine differs from others in many respects. The first to arrest 

 attention is the driving wheels, which are large, and made almost entirely of 

 wrought iron, being very strong and light ; and a distinctive feature, not found in 

 any other, is that there are oj>enings through the tire, or face, which, it is claimed, 

 enables it to hold better in slippery mud, wet grass or weeds, without extra attach- 

 ment. The entire weight of the boiler i-< supported on springs, which break the 

 force of shocks received in going over rough places. The engine is well gotten up, 

 and is placed at the extreme forward end of the boiler, and has two steam pipes, 

 one taking steam from the forward end, the other from the dome, enabling it to 

 get dry steam from one or the other, with water fresh in the boiler, going either up 

 or down hills. By a simple arrangement of a single eccentric a reliable reverse 

 movement is secured, avoiding the wear and complications of the link. The whole 

 rig is well designed, is of good material and workmanship, and as light as is con- 

 sistent with the rough, hard service required of it. 



