20 OFFICIAL RF.TROSPFCTIVK FXIIIIMTIOX 



(los Brevets des Etats-Unis, On verra que cette machine possedait a 

 pen de chose pres toules les exii>-ences d'une moissonneuse a ratehiL,^e 

 a main. IClle etait pourvue d'lui rahalteur cnnvcnahle, d'un diviseur, 

 d'un apinireil de coupe, il'une phitefornie de reception et d'un poste 

 pour le rateleur. Cette machine etait tirec ct le niouvement aux 

 parties etait dt^nne ])ar des roues de support. Son api>areil de coui)e 

 consistait de ciseaux. A part la i>rande difliculte de tenir ceux-ci en 

 ordre, il est evident cpie cette machine fut un succes prati(|ue. Son 

 diviseur est du tvpe inoderne et le rahatteur est bien i)roportionne. 

 Cette machine traxailla dans la nioisson de IS.^.v 



No. 7. 

 AMBLER'S MOWING MACHINE. 



On December 23, 1834, a United States patent was granted to 

 Enoch Ambler, of the State of New York, for a mowing machine. It 

 was one of the very first single-wheel grass-cutting machines ever pro- 

 duced. 



At the time this patent was taken out models were required by the 

 United States Patent Office. It is a fact that most inventors are not 

 skilled mechanics, and because of this fact many crude models were pre- 

 sented. Like this one, they served a purpose, however, in instructing 

 inventors who followed. 



Ambler fully appreciated the necessity of ample traction, and conse- 

 quently provided his supporting and driving wheel with rims so aggres- 

 sive as positively to engage the soil over which the machine passed and 

 compel proper action of the cutting devices. Had he adopted Mr. 

 Hussey's cutting blades and applied a chain instead of a belt to impart 

 motion to the crank-shaft that he provided for reciprocating the cutting 

 apparatus, his mower would, no doubt, have proved to be a valuable 

 machine — as practical, very likely, as those which came into use more 

 than ten years later, having, as they did, Hussey's cutting devices, except 

 for the fact that the driver was compelled to walk. The machine was 

 drawn by two horses walking beside the standing grass, and the driver, 

 while walking behind, between handles like those of a plow, was able 

 to raise the cutting apparatus from the ground at one or both ends. 



