Implement Show at Manchester. 
545 
When the machine is merely travelling and not working, the first pinion 
can be thrown clean out of gear from the spur-wheel, so that there is not any- 
gearing whatever running at such times. The knives are not only secured to 
the knife-bar, but are locked one to another by projections and recesses. 
The end of the finger-bar is supported on a wheel, which can be adjusted 
by a species of face-clutch arrangement, such as is used in adjusting the 
lieight of hay-making machines. The draft is taken by a draft-rod attached 
to the machine, in such a position as to counteract the tendency to side-way 
pressure on the bosses, caused by the resistance due to the passage of the 
knife through its work. 
lu the first trial this machine had a short plot which involved much turning, 
but the work was, nevertheless, done in a masterly style. Again, in the second 
trial, the most unlevel and worst cutting piece in the field fell to its lot, but 
the knife adapted itself to the uneven surface, cutting the grass in the most 
perfect manner. In the working of this machine the gearing follows the 
previous track of the swathing-board, and the knife will work at any angle,* 
the hinge of the cutter-bar being in a line with the crank-axle. The 
swathing-board can be altered to any angle required. It is altogether a splen- 
didly constructed machine. 
Mr. W. A. Wood, No. 478. — All the working parts appear to be well 
designed and well manufactured ; the framing of the machine is of wood. This 
is undoubtedly a valuable machine. It went through its trials in excellent 
style, making level and good cutting, and the draught is also exceedingly 
light. This machine by chance fell into light and easy plots ; for which 
reason we had it taken to some unlevel ground by the side of Messrs. Horhsby's 
plot, in order to test its capabilities in more difficult work. Here again the 
cutting was remarkably well done, the machine showing great adaptation to 
uneven surfaces. lu this machine a peculiar slipper-shaped finger was used, 
which we think gave it an advantage in these trials, as it admitted of a lower 
cjat being made without the danger of the points penetrating the ground. 
Mr. W. A. Wood's Imperial Mower, No. 480. — The framework of this 
machine is of cast-iron, the bearing-wheels are of large diameter, and a 
great novelty in it is that the bearing-wheel next the knife has not any 
arms or spokes, but is a mere ring ; this ring is bored out to run on three 
friction rollers, carried at the extremities of three arras of a casting fixed to the 
framework, and resembling very much the arms of the Isle of Man ; advantage 
is taken of this arrangement to bring the connecting rod for working the knife, 
and also to bring the attachment for the knife and finger-bar, through the 
bearing-wheel itself. The idea is ingenious, and most certainly, so far as 
the mere dynamometrical test goes, successful ; for this machine exhibited, both 
at work and when tried with the knife running idle, the lowest draft of any 
machine tested. The draft, however, when running idle was only 1"1 lbs. 
less than Hornsby's 638. The draft when cutting was extremely low. It 
is a matter yet to be ascertained how far the friction rollers on which the 
bearing-wheel is supported will stand constant usage and the introduction of 
grit or other foreign substances. In this machine there was a very ready 
arrangement for altering the height of the knife at either end, so as to adjust 
it to the variations in the ground. Notwithstanding its merits in these 
respects, we were not favourably impressed with it. The cutting not being so 
low as that of many others may account in some measure for lightness 
of draught. 
Messrs. J. and F, Howard's British Mower, No. 3719. — This machine went 
through its trials satisfactorily so far as regards cutting. We could not but 
_* Literally at any angle ; for it can be made to trim the side of a ditch, or to 
clip a hedge. 
