I 
88 ■ Report on the Trials of Shcaf-Bivders 
traverse, when the twisting is completed, and when it is neces- 
sary to sever the wires. This is a very ingenious and simple 
arrangement, which appears to answer admirably. 
There may be some objection to having two twists, inasmuch 
as there are four ends instead of two, which makes the sheaf 
more difficult to handle ; but this is really of very little conse- 
quence, and there is no doubt that there is very little in the 
mechanism to wear out or get out of order. 
As the machine shown by Osborne and Co. was in all respects 
identical with the one tried at Liverpool last year, and was very 
fully described in the late Mr. Hannam's report, no further 
description of it is required. A new machine, with modifications 
designed to meet the requirements of an English crop, was 
expected from Paris, but did not arrive in time for the trials. 
Messrs. J. and F. Howard, of the Britannia Works, Bedford, 
appeared on the scene for the first time with a self-binder with 
wire ; and it may be here remarked that, so far, this firm are the 
only English makers who employ this material. All the other 
inventions attempt to deal with string, a fact which indicates 
the strong feeling — probabl3', to some extent at least, prejudice 
— which has existed in this country against the use of wire, and 
which might be greatly modified, if not entirely removed, by 
experience. There are several features of this machine which 
are commendable, and I then-fore shall not apologise for in- 
troducing a somewhat detailed description. 
The knife is 4 feet S inches long, with smoo'li sections; fingers 3-inch 
pitcli, of malleable iron; depth of platform, 5 leet 6 inches, giving consider- 
able capacity lor dealing with lung-strawed crops; width over all going way, 
11 feet 3 inches: dejith of machine, i) feet. In its present form this machine 
ainnot jiass throngh ordinary gateways without being placed on a tiolly. 'J his 
and many other mmor points recpiire improvement. The driving-wheel is 
3 feet diameter, with 7-inch face, and carries Messrs. Howani's laiittrn-wheel 
gearing. The intervals between the teeth are open, in fact a sort of skeleton- 
wheel, through which dirt can p^ass. '1 he iilatform-wheel is 2 fiet 3 inches 
diameter, made of wood, with iron tire and hub, raised by means of a slot 
anil two screws. The frame is of wooii, and the a|iron and elevatore are 
m^de on the American model. 'I'he knife is capable of being varied %i to 
htiglil 01 cut from 3 to 6^ inches by the driver. ' 
Mutiou is coinnuinicated from the driving-wheel to a cross-shaft by means 
of the annular lantern-wheel (already alluded to) engaging a pinion. On the 
said sliaft is a bevel- v heel driving a bevcl-jiinion on a longitudinal .'^hafr, put 
in and out of gear by a clutch actuated by a lever from the driver's foot. At 
the forward emi of the .same shaft is a sproggle-wlieel to drive the upj er roller 
of the elevators ; and at its extremity the crank-disc actuatiusj the knife 
connecting-rod, which is made of wootl, the knife-bar being of angle-iron 'i'he 
cross- or last-motion shaft at its extreme outer end carries a i)inion with clutches 
under control by the dr vers foot, which drives a spur-wheel on a second 
cross-shnit ; on the outer face of the said spur-wheel is cast a bevel-wheel,' 
which engages into another on a second longitudinal shaft, which carries at 
