and on Miscellaneous Inventions at the Birmingham Show. 259 
from the slightly upcurved or screw-formed platform, at 12^-feet 
intervals, were only fairly laid, being spread to about 5 feet 
breadth, with wisps of the bright and slippery straw lying too 
much crosswise over the rest. 
No. 2. — Messrs. Hornsbt/s Five-armed " Spring-balance " Reaper (4G5 Cata- 
logue number) with " Controllable " Delivery. The main wheel is of 2 feet 
10 J inches diameter, with a plain tire of 7 inches breadth, and an edge-scraper 
to clear it from dirt. The cutter-bar, in line with the axis of the main wheel, is 
of angle-iron, the fingers being affixed under the bottom plate. The knife- 
sections are 3 inches wide, centre to centre, and the throw of the crank 5 J inches ; 
the thrust of the crank connecting-rod is downward, while in the former 
machine (No. 4C9) it is iipward. The new " controllable " delivery enables 
the driver to instantaneously vary the rate of delivery without changing the 
gearing or stopping the machine ; that is, according to his judgment of the 
requirements of different parts of the crop, or holes, or laid places met 
with ; or for carrying the sheaf round a corner he can, by a movement of his 
hand, alter the rake-motion so as to deliver by all the arms, or deliver by 
none (using all as gatherers), or by every second, or every third, or every 
fourth arm in succession. The effect is that in this machine, with a main 
wheel 2 feet 10J inches diameter, and the rake-arm motion making one revo- 
lution in every 25 feet advance of the machine, the driver has the option of 
depositing the sheaf-bunches at every 5, 10, 15, or 20 feet ; or of stopping the 
delivery altogether. The remarkably ingenious mechanical arrangements by 
which all this is placed under easy command may be briefly described thus : — 
Upon a fixed upright shaft turns freely the wheel, or rake-carrier, upon 
which all the rake-arms are hinged or jointed, so that they are at liberty to 
move in a vertical direction only ; and each arm is suspended by a chain, the 
five chains being hooked to a collar or centre rotating upon the upper end of 
the fixed shaft. This is cranked or bent over towards the platform, so as to 
fix the centre in such a position that the chains allow the rakes in their lowest 
position to sweep the platform, while they hold up the rakes in their highest 
position clear above the head of the driver. But each arm is also supported 
while passing over the platform, and for about one-third of its revolution after 
leaving the platform, by a friction-roller travelling over a circular incline or 
cam, undue friction being avoided by placing this roller about 10 inches from 
the joint or hinge-end of the arm. As in some other machines, two fixed or 
stationary cams or guides are provided ; the roller carrying the weight of the 
rake-arm being permitted to traverse along the lower cam, when the rake is to 
sweep close down upon the platform to deliver the sheaf, but being shunted by 
a small switch on to the upper guide when the rake is to rise above the cut 
stuff on the platform, after having acted as a gatherer bringing the standing 
crop to the cutter-bar. It will be understood that when the switch is open, all 
the rakes will follow the course of the lower guide ; and when the switch is 
closed, all will rise after bringing the corn to the cutter-bar, and will follow 
the course of the upper guide. Hence, in order to vary the intervals of delivery, 
it is necessaiy that the switch should be opened and shut by the machine at 
regular intervals, which maybe longer or shorter at the choice of the attendant. 
The switch is kept closed by a spring, and opened by the action of a sliding 
piece and connections, caused to move once at each rotation of a small cam for 
the purpose ; and the variation of the delivery to every second, third, or fourth 
rake is effected by setting the differential gear which actuates this cam, so as 
to increase or diminish the number of its revolutions relative to the speed of 
the rake-motion. The cam can be driven at three different speeds ; with the 
quickest speed it makes one revolution while two rake-arms are passing a given 
point, while with the slowest speed it revolves once in the time that four rakes 
S 2 
