IS BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE 



The "straight sickle blade," but cut one way only, and abandoned 

 some 10 or 12 years after its conception in 1831, as he states, appears 

 to be the only original idea — properly belonging to whom it may — in 

 the patent of 1834. As to the "foundation " of the machine, viz: — the 

 platform, cog wheels, crank, :vc. &c., they have been used by every 

 projector in reaping machines, for a century. 



A machine exhibited at the World's Fair in London, by C. H. 

 McCormick, had the "straight sickle blade," but alternating the cuts 

 every few inches. With such a machine it is impracticable to cut 

 grain, much less grass, efificicntly, divested of the reel. That plan has 

 since been changed to a much more efficient blade, the scolloped edged 

 sickle. That it was used in the N. Western States by others several 

 years previous to its adoption by C. H. McCormick, we believe admits 

 of just as little doubt, as rests with the priority of invention of the 

 Reel, Rakers-seat, &c. 



There is one other important feature, patented in 1845 and referred 

 to in the Pusey letter;— an "Iron case to preserve the sickles from 

 clogging;" these we will also take a look into after a while. 



Obed Hussey as appears by the evidence before us, made his first 

 Machine in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he then resided, in the spring of 

 1833, and it was patented the same year. Threshing machines were 

 then being introduced into that section, and were attracting much 

 notice. Overhearing the conversation of an individual interested in 

 such implements, he asked the question if there were no machines to 

 reap the grain? The reply was no; " and whoever will invent one will 

 make a fortune." 



Without any knowledge, as we believe, of what had been done by 

 others, — and certainly his occupations had not been such as to make 

 him familiar with the subject by reading, or otherwise — it claimed the 

 attention of his leisure hours so far as to make a model. This satisfied 

 him that the thing was practicable, and he undertook an operating 

 machine, which although lightly made, was suf=ficient fully to test the 



principle. . r 1 a- j 



This principle — the arrangement and construction of the (juards 

 and Knives, was precisely identical with those used by him at the 

 present day, except an improvement patented in 1847, leaving open- 

 ings at the back end of the slot in the guards for the escape of parti- 

 cles of straw or grass that might get in between the blades and guards. 



It was communicated at the time by letter with a diagram to a per- 

 sonal friend now living, and of the highest respectability, from whom 

 we have a certificate, and copy of the drawing. The knives or cutters, 

 for lack of more suitable materials were made out of hand saw blades 

 cut into suitable form, and riveted to a bar, vibrating through an 

 opening or slot in the guards. 



Judge Foster residing within a few miles of the city, and to whom 

 he appfied, kindly offered him every facility to test the machine by 

 cutting grain, ripe and unripe, being himself greatly interested in its 

 success. When taken to the field, a considerable number of persons 

 were attracted to the spot; and rather to the discomfiture of the in- 



