- HILL AND BUNDY’S MACHINE. 221 
for his method of separating the fibre by mechanical means, 
and without the aid of water-retting. His discovery was 
thought of such importance, that Parliament granted him the 
peculiar privilege, that the time for the specification of his 
patent should be extended from six months to seven years. 
The Irish Linen Board expended a large sum in introducing 
the method into the Flax districts, and Mr. Wilson informs 
us that one of the machines is still preserved in the White 
Linen Hall at Belfast. Before the time, however, for specifi- 
cation arrived, Messrs. Hill and Bundy took out a patent 
for their machine for breaking and preparing raw Flax 
and Hemp.! 
In this machine the frame is made either of wood or metal, 
which supports two conical rollers. These revolve indepen- 
dently of each other in proper 
brass bearings, a third coni- 
cal roller being similarly sup- 
ported under the top piece of 
the machine. All these rollers 
are frustra of cones made of 
cast iron. Whatever form of 
teeth be adopted, they must 
be so shaped and disposed 
with regard to each other, as 
to have considerable play be- 
tween them, in order to ad- 
mit the quantity of Flax stem 
which is intended tobe broken 
and prepared. The upper piece 
of the machine, which carries 
the upper conical roller, is attached to the main frame by a 
moveable joint at its upper end, and is connected near its other 
1 Several of these machines appear by the following extract from a despatch, to 
have been sent to India by the Court of Directors: “A principle has lately been 
discovered for producing the fibre of Hemp, Sunn, Caloee, and other similar 
plants, in a most improved state, without steeping or dew-retting. We have 
judged it advisable to send you several of the machines, with some printed directions 
to assist in the use of them ; and as very little tuition is necessary, so we have judged 
it proper only to have two men instructed in its operations, who belong to the ship in 
which they came, and who will attend to instruct those you may appoint to be 
taught.” (Public Department, May 8th, 1816.) 
