Report on the Trials of Implements at Taunton. 
641 
In giving a few descriptions of grass-mowing machines, and 
illustrations of some important parts of them, it may be ex- 
pected that those from the extensive and successful firm of 
^Messrs. Hornsby and Sons would occupy our first attention. 
Messrs. Hornsby and Sons^ Mowing Machines. — Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 
a side-elevation, i inch to a foot, of No. 580, called Paragon o, wbich took 
the First Prize, a (Fig. 1) is the main axle, made of wrought iron, and free 
to turn in bearings formed in the main frame b, which is of cast iron. It 
has the ratchet-box / kej-ed upon it, at the side nearest the cutter-bar, with 
which the road-wheel e gears by means of a spring-pawl. At the opposite side 
is the road-wheel (/, biting in the same way into a ratchet which is fonned in 
the geared ring, which is also keyed to the main axle. This ring carries 
100 teeth, working into the pinion (j, with 13 teeth, which clutches to the 
pinion by the wrought-iron spindle /<, and is thrown in and out of gear by 
the turnover-lever i, which can be acted upon by the foot of the driver. On 
the opposite end of the spindle A is a bevelled wheel and pinion ijrotected from 
the cut grass by a shield formed uix>n the main frame. This bevelled wheel 1 1 
(Figs. 1 and 2) carries 45 teeth, gearing with 13 teeth upon the end of the 
spiudle carrying the crank. This spindle is 25 inches long. The road-wheels 
are of cast iron, 2 feet 4 inches in diameter, with wrought-iron spokes, and the 
speed of the crank is 26"62 to one revolution of the road-wheel, i. e. 2| inches 
to 1 foot of circumference, the crank being 2| inches' throw. The cutter-bar 
> steel, and is jointed direct to the main frame by the caps k k (Figs. 1 and 2), 
yon which it joints; consequently, however uneven the surface of the land 
may be, the crank is always directly in a line with the cutters, and the knife, 
which is of spring steel ^ in. thick will work equally well at any angle, even 
when turned up for travelling, j is the main-shoe of malleable iron, to which 
the caps k k (Figs. 1 and 2) are bolted, and the front of which forms tiie slade p, 
carrying the leading wheel ; m shows, in dotted lines, the position of the 
pole; 71 (Figs. 1 and 2) is the draught-bar, to which the whipple-trees are 
attached by the draught-rod. It is brought to a position sideways of the 
draught-pole, by which means the side draught usually taken by the jjole is 
removed, and the weight of the cutter-bar ujwn the land is also lightened, so 
that it has a tendency on meeting with obstructions to rise over them. The 
driver's seat is received in a socket formed on the pole-bracket, and when 
the driver is on the seat the whole of the weight of the pole is taken olf the 
iorses. 
Fig. 3 shows the bridge-iron detached, to which is coupled the pole-casting, 
shown in Fig. 2, so that the latter may slide upon the bridge-iron to any 
position to suit the breadth of the horses' walk. 
Figs. 4 and 5 show plan and side view of the connecting-rod i full size. 
These are made of spring steel in the centre, with wrought-iron ends welded 
on them ; they are case-hardened. The length, 1 1 inches from centre to centre, 
being the same in No. 581 ; No. 582 is half an inch shorter. 
Figs. 6 and 7 give plan and side view of a finger one-fourth the actual 
size, and show the inclination of the cut. The finger has steel cutting-plates, top 
and bottom, which are riveted in and tightly driven into a V-shaped recess 
at the front end. 
Fig. 8 is a diagram on a scale of 3 inches to 1 foot, showing three positions 
of the knife during one revolution of the crank, which is the same in No. 581 
(Paragon x) and No. 583 (the Manchester Mower), a is the position of the knife 
at the'extreme throw to the right ; h, in dotted lines, shows the extreme throw 
to the left; and c the return-position as a, after a travel forwards of 3^- 
inches. 
