THE GENESEE FARMER 



April 



KETCHUM'S MOWING MACHINE — PATENTED JULY, 1847 



KETCHUM'S MOWING MACHINE. 



The information in our possession relative to this 

 machine induces us to recommend it to the attention 

 of farmers. The manufacturer states that— "This 

 machine is simple in its construction, and made 

 mostly of iron, and not liable to get out of order. 

 It is capable of cutting from 16 to 20 acres a day; 

 and the grass when cut by it falls back to the rack 

 bar, and lays smooth and even on the ground, in a 

 proper shape to dry — thereby saving the time and 

 expense of spreading it. In meadows that are con- 

 siderably broken and uneven, as well as those which 

 are smooth and even, it has been found to operate 

 with perfect success, and to all appearance the cutting 

 is the same." 



This machine received the first premium of the 

 N. Y. State Ag. Society, at the Annual Fair at 

 Saratoga, in 1847. It was exhibited at the State 

 Fair in 1848, and received a Certificate as the highest 

 evidence of merit. We annex the report of the 

 Committee : 



"The undersigned, a Committee on Mowing Machines, 

 Report.— That, only one Machine, and that patented to Wm. 

 F. Ketchum of Buffalo, has been submitted to their inspection. 

 They have examined this with care, and have had a full 

 opportunity of witnessing its operation, and in their opinion, 

 the Machine is simple in construction, and performs its work 

 in a very satisfactory and complete manner, accomplishing a 

 great saving of manual labor. 



Although the Machine works best in meadows with smooth 

 and even surface, yet, we see no reason why it will not do 

 well on surfaces moderately broken and uneven, not being 

 exposed as we see, to any greater embarrassment from une- 

 ven surfaces than the Plow is. As regards its liability to be 

 broken or disarranged in its work, we discover nothing pe- 

 culiar, and as to this, it can only be determined by longer 

 continued experiments than we have had opportunity to 

 witness. 



On the whole, we recommend the Machine to the favor- 

 able regards of the Society, and through the Society to the 

 attention of the Agricultural public. A 11 of which is respect- 

 fully submitted. Albert H. Tkacy, 



Thomas C. Love, 

 Buffalo, Sept. 7, 1848. W. R. Coppock." 



PEASE'S RAKING- PLATFORM. 



If this improvement, attached to the machine, 

 above represented, will work as well in a wheat field, 

 as is indicated by the operation of a model we have 

 examined, | it will prove a most valuable invention. 

 It is thus described by Mr. Pease : 



"The Raking Platform (A) is attached to the 

 back of the rack bar, it being of the length and 

 width required to receive the grain, and from two to 

 three inches in thickness, consequently not interfering 

 with the stubble over which it passes. When a 

 sufficient quantity of grain has been cut and falls on 

 the platform, it is easily raked therefrom by the per- 

 son that drives, who sits upon a spring seat (e) and 

 by pulling the lever (d) a short distance, (it being 

 connected with the raking apparatus which is placed 

 in the platform,) it operates immediately on the teeth 

 (c c c,) which are forced across the platform, raking 

 the grain from it, and landing it on the ground 

 between the platform and the apron (b.) By a 

 reverse motion of the lever the teeth fold up and 

 travel back under the platform, and rise behind the 

 turn off, by which they are protected; consequently 

 the teeth- in their return, do not interfere with the 

 grain which is constantly falling on and across the 

 platform. The time required to rake the bundle is 

 no more than is necessary for the person who drives 

 to move the lever a short distance. By this simple 

 machine it will be seen that one man is required to 

 drive the team and rake the grain: having at his 

 control the raking apparatus enables him to gather a 

 bundle as large as he likes, and rake it when and 

 where he pleases; and he can make allowance for 

 the thickness and thinness of the grain and rake it 

 accordingly. It is raked in such a manner, that the 

 bundle is landed upon the ground smooth and even, 

 and out of the way of the machine when it comes 

 round for the next swarth, leaving the grain in bun- 

 dle, and in good condition to bind at leisure. 



The Raking Platform is easily attached to any 



