15 



nli eels, to accommodate itself to the irregularities of the ground 

 which construction I claim (and which Hussey adopted).'' 



In explanation of this last statement Hussey remodeled his ma- 

 chine, adopting Mr. McCormick's plan, in 1841. In a long advertise- 

 ment in the American Farmer of 1842 Hussey states: 



" Last year an entire change was made in the general structure 

 of my machine (see illustration, Hussey's reaping machine, 1841, 

 Fig. 3)-" 



Summarizing on this point: 



(a) The McCormick plan is the one in universal use at this day. 



(b) Hussey abandoned his construction and adopted that of Mc- 

 Cormick. 



It is therefore submitted that on the general construction of the 

 machine McCormick's plan was the success and Hussey's the failure. 



(3) The Reel. The picture of the McCormick machine, the Pat- 

 ent Office drawings, and all the early newspaper accounts speak of 

 McCormick's reel. In the description of McCormick's machine in the 

 Mechanics' Magazine in 1833 it is stated: 



" There is a reel, as it is termed, which is about 6 or 7 feet in di- 

 ameter, and the same length of the knife. This is made by framing 

 arms in each end of the shaft, say eight, the points of which are joined 

 together by pieces called ribs, parallel to the shafts. The reel is re- 

 volved as the machine advances by a band from the main wheel to 

 one on its shaft, the object of which is to draw the grain back to the 

 knife, which will be done whether straight or tangled, upright or lean- 

 ing, unless below an angle of 45 degrees, and to throw it upon the 

 apron." 



