and Miscellaneous Implements at Bristol. 
75 
appearing on the binder-arm is in accordance with a contract 
entered into lor fifteen years. In 18G8 Mr. Lock, who has 
certain patents involved in the machine, entered Mr. Wood's 
employ, where he is still. The contract states that the name is 
to appear on the principal distinguishing feature of the machine, 
hence it is placed on the revolving arm. Neither that nor the 
twisting-pinion, however, were his inventions. 
I trust that these remarks will not be misconstrued as in any 
way slighting to other inventors. Great credit is due to them — 
especially McCormick and Co., and F. D. Osborne — for the 
energetic way in which they have followed up Mr. Wood's lead 
in this important direction. As regards the former, some 
details may prove interesting. 
Our readers may be reminded that the head of the firm at 
Chicago, Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick — still a hale, vigorous man 
— is the same individual who exhibited a reaping machine in 
our Exhibition of 1851. Mr. McCormick was present at the 
Bristol trials, and has kindly furnished me with some facts as 
to his connection with the Binding Machine, which promises to 
render his name even more famous than it became in 1851. 
It is four or five years ago that the manufacture of automatic 
binders was first decided on at the Chicago manufactory of 
C. H. and L. J. McCormick. And it was commenced after a 
visit paid by Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick to Canada, in order to 
witness the operation of a binding machine made by a Mr. 
Gordon, then owned by a Canadian Company of which he 
was a member, and which machine, whilst very imperfect 
in its construction and operation, embraced the reciprocating 
motion of the binder arm, which exists in the present 
machine. 
An agreement was entered into, with a view to having the 
exclusive right to manufacture under their patents, and $20,000 
were paid in advance, with certain other terms and conditions, 
one of which was the production of the patents for inspection at 
a certain stipulated time. In the meantime it was ascertained 
that these patents were invalid, a Mr. Withington being proved 
to be the original inventor of the reciprocating action, and 
eventually he was paid a considerable sum for his part of the 
invention found in the Gordon Machine, as well as for a 
differential gear, which was the original, though not at all 
arranged in the same way as the extremely clever and simple 
mechanism for twisting and cutting the wire which is now 
employed. Unless by those who had watched the progress of 
the invention, it would be difficult to recognise in the admirable 
machine of to-day the elements of Withington's patent. Change 
after change has been made, and many patents have been taken 
