BRIEF NARRATIVE OF THE 



back and forth, and higher or lower, to suit the height of the grain. A 

 revolving apron delivered the grain in a continuous swath; and the 

 team was attached to the rear of the machine, pitskhig it through the 

 grain. 



We have been more minute in the description of Bell's machine, 

 because it may have been the foundation of some of the early, and 

 nearly simultaneous attempts made in this country. In fact it does 

 not admit of doubt that several were nearly identical with Bell's in the 

 use of the shears and reel, though with much more simple gearing, and 

 in the general arrangement. VVhether they were original inventions, 

 cannot be ascertained. In this country, from l8oo to 1833 out of 

 some I 5 or 20 patents granted for " cutting grain " and " cutting grass," 

 only four appear to have been "restored"; i. e. technically speaking, 

 "not restored" in models and drawings after the burning of the Pat- 

 ent Office in 1836. Many, if not most of them, were probably improve- 

 ments in the grain cradle, and mowing scythe: though the names are 

 preserved, there is no record to show for what particulars the patents 

 were granted. There can be no doubt however, that the inventors 

 considered them valueless, as they were " not restored," though Con- 

 gress voted large sums to replace the burnt models and drawings, 

 without any expense to the parties. Of those restored James Ten 

 Eyck's patent is dated 1825. VVm. Manning's in 1831, Wm. & Thos. 

 Schnebly's in 1833, and Obed Hussey's also in 1833. 



Jame's Ten Eyck used an open reel; not only to gather the grain, 

 but his cutters or shears, were attached to. and revolved with the reel ;— 

 very much, if not exactly on the principle of shearing cloth. 



Wm. Manning used another form of cutters, and quite different 

 from James Ten Eyck's— he likewise used fingers or teeth to support 

 the grain during the action of the horizontal cutters. 



Wm. & Thos. Schnebly of Maryland, also used the reel, with shears 

 as cutters, very similar to Bell's. 



Abr'm Randall or Rundell, of N. Y. (for the name is spelled both 

 ways), was another of the early inventors. His patent of 1835 is not 

 restored, though it is stated his machine was experimented with as 

 early as 1833 or 1834. He also used the reel, and his cutters, it is said, 

 were similar to Bell's— using shears. 



T. D. Burrall, of N. Y. was also one of the early inventors, about 

 1832 or 1833, but we believe professedly after Bell's, so far as to use a 

 reel and shears. 



None of these machines however, Hussey's excepted, were success- 

 ful, or were used any length of time; nor is it necessary here to refer 

 particularly to other attempts, about this time, or indeed, prior to this 

 period, for they were equally unsuccessful; and their inventors cannot 

 claim the merit of doing a thing, that was not in fact performed— mak- 

 ing an efficient and successful Reaper. We may here remark, however, 

 that so far as now known, no machine like Bell's, on the shear or scis- 

 sor principle, has succeeded in this country; or as we believe, is ever 

 likely to succeed. We have seen a number by different inventors, and 

 all have failed to give satisfaction. They may work well for a very 



