16 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
Fig. 10. — Diagram of Estcrley's Harvester. 
T~tF 
A. Travelling-wheel, shown by dotted line. 
E. Sproggle-wheel on rake-spindle, driven 
B. Spur-wheel, driving rake and reel by 
cbain-gear. 
by chain-gearing. 
F. Second wheel on same shaft, driving reel- 
C. Second gearing-wheel in connection with 
the cam D actuating the collector, of 
which a side view is seen at J, the end 
of the collector-board. 
shaft 
G. Rake-arm. 
H. Small wheel on reel-shaft. 
1. Side view of frame. 
The sheaves as made, are placed upon a tilting platform, which extends 
beyond the transverse platform, and is actuated by a lever from the driver's 
foot. Unfortunately this machine was not taken out for trial, and therefore I 
only saw it worked by belting ; but the motions are so simple and the action 
so steady, that I formed a very high opinion of its utility. I believe that, 
by the aid of the collector, two good men, placed at the greatest advantage 
to make the most of their activity, might tie a light crop as fast as delivered. 
I think, further, that the Esterley harvester might be converted into an 
automatic binder, without any serious complication. It has many advantages 
over the harvesters with canvas belts ; the action of the collecting-rake is 
less violent, and the risk of loss from shedding is reduced. There is a greater 
margin as to the height of cut, and corn can be cut closer, as there is no 
canvas box or connecting lever for the knife ; generally the mechanism is 
more simple, and therefore less liable to become deranged. The mechanical 
assistance of the collector is considerable; the binders, beiDg comfortably 
placed at opposite ends of the table, have plenty of elbow-room and can work 
to much greater advantage than when packed close together, and having to 
take the corn as delivered by the elevator. There was only one form of har- 
vester (not automatic) tried at Schencks. 
Sheaf-binding Machines. — The great feature of this department, 
and indeed of the whole Agricultural Exhibition, was the automatic 
binders, the realisation of a long-cherished notion on which me- 
chanics have been engaged for years. At present the most success- 
ful of these inventions, of which four different kinds were shown 
in actual work, is probably far from perfect ; but just as the first 
Exhibition of 1851 was memorable for the introduction of a 
reaping-machine, will this be remembered as the first public occa- 
sion on which automatic binders were successfully worked. It is 
also noteworthy that at the same time that automatic binders were 
