720 Report on Implements at Preston. 
side to side, and giving motion to the shakers. There are two 
pairs of rods from the eccentrics (shown in Fig. 23) ; the upper 
one drives the shoe, and the lower one the caving riddle. 
The cranks of a threshing-machine are the parts that usually 
go first ; jet other makers have adhered to them in preference 
to eccentrics, perhaps because the latter, with their larger 
bearings, are apt to fail if the attendant neglects to keep them 
supplied with oil. In this machine special care has been taken 
to secure a thorough lubrication, so that if the eccentrics are 
oiled in the morning they need no attention until the end of the 
day. There are in all six oil-cups for these parts, and four 
oil-holes for the carriers at the back ends of the shakers, all 
accessible from the outside. In an ordinary machine of a 
similar size there are twelve or thirteen large bearings re- 
quiring oil or grease, and ten oil-holes, most of which are 
difficult of access. In a double-crank machine there are twenty 
important bearings, only four of which can be reached from 
the outside. The two brasses carrying the shaft are of large 
diameter and extra length. The frame of the machine is of 
English oak, strongly braced with a new triple iron truss. 
The other parts of this machine are of the pattern hitherto 
adopted by these makers. The second fan (seen on the extreme 
left in Fig. 23) has been used by them for the last three or 
four years ; it gives a direct blast to the grain descending from 
the smutter ; and as it sends the dust, &c., back into the shoe, a 
stronger blast can be used with safety than where the dust is 
blown outside the machine. The substitution of eccentrics for 
cranks is a feature peculiar to this machine : the method of 
driving the shoes by connecting-rods is somewhat similar to 
that adopted by Messrs. Gibbons and Robinson, and may be 
compared with Messrs. Nalder and Nalder's contrivance, in 
which the shaker-boxes themselves are connected so as to 
accomplish the work here done by rods. In all these and in 
Foden's machines the improvements that have been introduced 
result in a great reduction in the number of parts subject to 
wear and tear, a considerable saving of oil and greater ease in 
running. No. 17G5 is described as a 6-Horse Power Machine, 
price 135Z. It has a small model drum, 4 ft. 6 inches long 
and 19 in. in diameter. 
No. 1766 is described as an 8-Horse Power Machine, price 
150Z. It only dilfers from No. 1765 in its drum, which is a larger 
model, 4 ft. 6 inches long and 23 inches in diameter. 
Great credit is due to Messrs. Ruston, Proctor, and Co. for 
the improvements they have introduced in these machines ; but 
the Judges were bound to remember that other makers before 
tliem have diminished the number of wearing parts in threshing- 
