speed, were completely exhausted. This machine works heavily; it 

 requires too much power to drive its ponderous knife." 



In a paper read before the British Society for the Advancement of 

 Art and Science, in 1853, Alfred Crosskill, the first manufacturer in 

 England of the Hussey and Bell type of machines, makes as fair a 

 statement for Hussey's cutting apparatus as can be made: 



" The shape of the knives and guards varies in both machines. 

 Mr. McCormick's cutters form an angle with the guard of 60 to 70 

 degrees and have their edges serrated. . . . The cutters used by 

 Hussey make an angle of 10 or 20 degrees with the guard, and are 

 much more acute than those used by his rival. They are plain edged, 

 and their action is to chop the corn (grain) between them and the 

 guard through which they pass. His form of a knife bends the grasses 

 through the guards and in time chokes up the knives." 



Again the writer stated : 



" In Hussey's they form a very acute angle with the guards, which 

 are plain edged, and therefore chop off the straws by means of very 

 rapid motion through the fingers." 



Mr. Jacob Wilson, in his celebrated prize essay before the Royal 

 Agricultural Society, referred to the two machines as follows: 



'* In Mr. McCormick's machine the knife had a separate edge, the 

 numerous blades being riveted on to the bar in the form of an obtuse 

 angle, consequently its action is similar to that of a saw. It was more 

 desirable, more easily worked, and less liable to choke than Hussey's. 

 In Hussey's the knife formed a very acute angle, which was smooth 

 edged, and chopped the straw by a rapid motion through and against 

 the fingers, but unless driven at a considerable speed was liable to 

 choke. A friend, who worked one of these machines in America for 

 several years, informs me that it was no uncommon practice to have 

 the horses going at a sharp trot during the whole day to prevent the 

 choking of course having relays of men and horses. . . . The 

 obtuse angle cutter (McCormick's shear draw cut) is simple, effective, 

 durable, seldom requires sharpening, and consumes less power than 

 any other form." 



The Royal Agricultural College Farm, in 1852, held a trial between 

 Hussey's and McCormick's reapers lasting nine days. A committee 

 was appointed and the trial was one of the most severe ever held. The 

 report of the judges states : 



" McCormick's machine appeared to be free from clogging. The 

 place at which it was necessary for the horses to walk in order to 

 secure the proper working of the machines appeared to us a most 



