DRYING MACHINES. 



In Bulletin No. 26, in a Report by Mr. C W. Meaden on drying bananas reference was made to 

 the " Etna Pneumatic Fruit Drier." On writing to Mr. Meaden for further information, he very kindly 

 furnished the following information : — 



I can safely assert that the " Etna Drier" fulfills all that can be desired in drying bananas or any- 

 thing else — what is objectionable about it is that the iron pipes and casing of furnace are not stout 

 enough to resist the humidity of a climate such as that of Trinadad for any length of time. 



I have had to replace the hot air pipes once in four years and replaced the outside iron of furnace 

 by brickwork ; this is an improvement as the brick-work retains the heat much better than the iron. 



As far as the principle of drying fruit goes, it would be safe to invest in this machine and make 

 such improvements as your situation, &c, may call for. 



Bananas forming one of the staples of Jamaica, I venture to think that there is need of some pro- 

 cess of drying to use up small and slightly damaged fruit. Here I regret to say fruit drying has re- 

 ceived no attention, though I fully worked out the thing and proved that there was money in it. 



This fruit drier is sold in Trinidad for £40, but you would perhaps do better by dealing direct 

 with the makers in America, whose address I enclose in case you do not know it. I also enclose two 

 letters, one of which gives full particulars, the other is from the Agent of the makers. 



When not drying bananas, I use the drier for cocoa, coffee, eorn, starch or for anything that 

 requires drying, so that a machine that will do this, will quickly earn its cost. To-day I moved 401bs. 

 of cocoa out of the sweating box, dried it and sold it the same day, this will shew how useful such a 

 machine is. 



I shall be glad to furnish you with any further information within my power. 



Port of Spain, 31st May, 1892. 



C. W. Meaden, Esq. 

 Dear Sir, 



We beg to offer you a Fruit Drying Machine of the same make and capacity as the one sold by us 

 sometime ago to the Government, on the same terms. 

 An answer will oblige, yours truly, 



Chas. Faleim & Son. 



50 Charlotte St., Port of Spain. 



C. W. Meaden, Esq. 



In consequence of my not being able to carry out my industry of Banana Drying, I would be glad 

 to dispose of my Dryer with all its supply of material, consisting of shooks for 800 — 2lbs. boxes, mill, 

 &c, for $180.00. I have at present bananas prepared eight months ago which are in perfect condition. 



Yours truly, 



A. Grausauix. 



P. S.— Enclosed is Specification of Dryer. 



Specification of Universal Drying Apparatus. 



The aparatus consists of an oblong box, having both ends open, one with doors for the reception 

 of trays, the bottom of which are made of tinned wire wove to run on narrow brackets fixed to the side 

 of the box. The other end is screwed to the flat side of a semi-circular iron drum, having a vertical 

 fan in the centre, of the same size, the blades of which, at first start from the shaft in a curve, finish- 

 ing with straight ends. This fan is made to revolve several hundred revolutions per minute by means 

 of bevel gear, pully, and driving wheels at the outside. 



The heating power consists of a furnace with ash pit enclosed, this is in itself enclosed in an iron 

 box or oven, having three openings at the lower part, one of which is much larger and serves as regu- 

 lator for the entrance of cold air. At the top of the box or oven is a circular opening in the centre of 

 the upper part, for the exit of heated air, of the same diameter as the curved parts of the blade of the 



revolving fan. • 



To put the machine in motion the furnace is heated, the cold air enters into the oven or box by 

 the three lowor openings, and gets heated, uscends to the circular opening jvhere it meets the revolving 

 fan, which mixes the hot air and throws it in all directions in the box, and finds its exit through an 

 aperture at the end of the box. . , 



So groat is the draught in this machine that by means of regulating the revolution of the driving 

 wheel or by opening or shutting the regulutor the temperature can be made to increase or docrease by 

 twenty degrees. 



Address of Maker* :— Vermont Farm Machine Co., Bellows Falls, Vermont, U.b.A. Manager : 

 Mr. N. G. Williams. 



