PREPARED BY THE DEERIXG HARVESTER COMPANY. 13 



No. 2. 

 HUSSEY'S REAPING MACHINE. 



On December 21, 1833, a United States patent was granted to Obed 

 Hussey that probably deserves as much attention as any other invention 

 in this art. His gear frame was mounted upon an axle between two 

 main supporting wheels, one or both drivers, as desired. The cutting 

 apparatus extended to one side. His machine was thus adapted to oper- 

 ate in the same manner as Ogle's, but he provided a rigid platform upon 

 which the grain could accumulate, and a stand upon which an attendant 

 might ride and rake off the gavels. A divider was provided for separat- 

 ing the cut grain from that left standing, and deflecting it onto the plat- 

 form. The cutting apparatus was that used upon all machines of the 

 present day, and was so perfect in its operation that the reel provided on 

 his first machine was found unnecessary, and was laid aside. (See 

 "Overlooked Pages of Reaper History" and "Memorial of Robert 

 McCormick.") Its cutting apparatus was later improved by him, and it 

 cannot be said that any material change has been made since it left his 

 hands. 



The rear portion of the machine was supported by a roller or caster 

 wheel, and the tongue left free, thus avoiding all neck weight. The 

 platform was hinged to the main frame in such a manner that the outer 

 end of the cutting apparatus might rise and fall. The platform was also 

 removable, and by removing it the machine was adapted to cut grass as 

 well as grain. 



Hussey 's reaper operated successfully in the harvest of 1833, and 

 was immediately put upon the market. 



The modern manual-delivery reaper of the present day may be con- 

 sidered to be but a refinement of the Hussey machine of 1833. No 

 machine, it is believed, ever became perfectly successful until in it was 

 placed Hussey's cutting apparatus. Be that as it may, no other cutting 

 device is now used. Bell's reaper received its finishing touches when 

 Hussey's reciprocating knife was added. (Had Bell adopted Gladstone's 

 draft method as used by Mr. Hussey, Bell's machine would have been as 

 perfect and simple as any machine produced up to the time of the inven- 

 tion of the Marsh harvester.) Ample arrangement was made to prevent 

 side draft by using the stubble-side wheel only as a driving wheel, yet by 

 simple means both supporting wheels could be depended upon at will. 



The following, quoted from the patent, will enable one to see how 

 nearly Mr. Hussey's invention conformed to the cutting devices of the 

 present day: 



