of String Binders at Derby. 
285 
inclined spiral, the gripper moving at the same time towards 
the knotter and thereby depressing the end of the string which 
is held ; and as the knotter revolves and the string slips over 
the top of the spiral the preliminary twist or loop is formed. 
At this point the compressor descends and tightens the sheaf. 
In completing its revolution the lower hook of the knotter seizes 
the ends of the string, draws them through the loop, completing 
the knot, and at the same moment the string is cut. The string 
is contained in a box on the driver's platform, and its discharge 
is regulated by a tension-gear and spring. 
Gleaners and Binders. 
Inasmuch as article No. 4550, exhibited by the Notts Fork 
and Implement Company, was the only machine of this class 
that appeared on the trial-ground, I shall first describe its 
mechanism, and then notice very briefly the machines shown 
by the Johnston Harvester Company, Messrs. W. & C. Wool- 
nough, and Mr. Geo. Spencer. Article No. 4550 comprises a 
strong oak frame, width 7 feet 8 inches, depth 8 feet, with a 
central hollow axle above, carrying the main wheel, 38 inches in 
diameter, and 6 inches face, of wrought iron, with iron spokes, 
and a small platform-wheel, 21 inches in diameter by 32 inches 
face. The general appearance of the machine will be seen by 
the accompanying figures which give an end and side view. 
The platform, of which the back side is seen (Fig. 20), consists 
of three light steel breasts terminating downwards with three 
prongs, the middle breast having on its surface a steel spring- 
compressor which holds the corn as it ascends the platform 
against revolving prongs, carried on a loose sleeve on the main 
axle, and by this arrangement with the forward motion of the 
machine the corn is picked up either from swathe or bundle, and 
brought to the tying-gear. The spring is seen at a in Fig. 21, 
It should be stated that the main axle is mounted on a crank- 
arm, and is free to move over any irregularities. 
Motion is derived from a spur-wheel (J)) on the back of the 
driving-wheel, in which it engages by a clutch-gear (actuated by 
the driver) gearing into a wheel (c) on a small countershaft, fixed 
by brackets on the frame (Fig. 20). On the reverse end is a 
mutilated pinion [d), on the outside face of which is on one side 
a short eccentric disc, and immediately opposite a crank-pin, 
which, by a bent connecting-rod and bell-crank lever with mu- 
tilated bevel-pinion on its axis, gears into a quadrant on the 
end of a long lever fixed on a bracket on the front frame of 
the machine, and by means of a connecting-rod going back to 
the centre of the machine actuates the needle-case. The needle- 
case slides in a horizontal rectangular box longitudinally, ter- 
