174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



machine, when at full work, was about four feet six inches in 

 width ; the nuriiber of cutters sixteen ; the diameter of the driv- 

 ing wheel thirty-three inches, and in each revolution it gives the 

 cutters twenty-two strokes. The fingers, or guard teeth and cut- 

 ters, appear to be substantially made, and little liable to injury 

 by the ordinary operations of the machine. Its weight was re- 

 ported to be 528 lbs., and the price $120, including duplicates of 

 some parts most exposed to injury by wear or accident. 



No. 2 was called "HuhbarcPs American Mower and Reaper^'' 

 and was exhibited by the inventor, who stated that it was the 

 first of that form yet constructed, and still incomplete in some of 

 the minor parts. This machine is intended to cut a swath five 

 feet in width; its driving wheel is three feet in diameter, and the 

 weight of the whole is 710 lbs. It is fitted with two sets of cut- 

 ting apparatus, one of the ordinary form and character, with 

 stationary guards, or fingers and triangular mowing cutters. The 

 other is so constructed that both guards and cutters vibrate; and 

 as they move in opposite directions the cutting edges pass over 

 each other with twice the rapidity in this that tliey do in the 

 other where one half remain stationary — an arrangement which 

 may, perhaps, for some work be found advantageous. But of this 

 and the general merits of the machine we had little opportunity 

 to form a definite opinion, as after being worked a short time the 

 failure of a small but indispensable part rendered a further trial 

 impracticable. Its work, while in good order, was well and 

 rapidly done, though apparently at a greater expenditure of power 

 than was required by the others. 



No. 3 was exhibited by Messrs. Griffing, Brother & Co., and 

 called the '^Little American Mower and Reaper.''^ It is intended 

 to cut a swath four feet eight inches wide; its driving wheel is 

 thirty inches in diameter; the number of cutters fourteen, and 

 these diifered from those in the other machines by having the 

 bevil on the under side instead of the upper. The weight was 

 reported to be 450 lbs. The price, fitted for mowing, $100, and 

 with the additions required to fit it for reaping |120. The trial 

 with this was not satisfactory; the machine itself was incom- 

 plete, (some small parts having been lost before it came upon the 

 field,) and the team and driver attached to it appeared to be so 

 entirely unacquainted with its proper management that it was 

 worked but a short time. 



No. 4 was exhibited by the inventor, and called ^^Watson''s 

 Sulkey Mower."" It is intended to cut tour feet six inches in 

 width. The cutting apparatus is much in the usual form, and the 



