The late Tliomas Aveling. 
359 
the Prize offered for a Low-sided Trolley to be drawn by an 
Agricultural Locomotive Engine. At Bedford, in 1874, a 
Second Prize was won for a Van with Fittings for men engaged 
in Steam Cultivation. On the Continent of Europe the firm ot 
Aveling: and Porter were awarded a largre number of medals for 
the specialities of their manufacture, and some also at American 
Shows. After the Vienna Universal Exhibition in 1873, 
INIr. Aveling was decorated with the Order of Francis Joseph ; 
and after the Paris Exhibition, in 1878, he received the Legion 
of Honour. 
This slight sketch of Showjard successes very imperfectly 
reflects the rapid and enormous growth of the Rochester works, 
which from very small beginnings have increased to such an 
extent that for some years an average of 400 men have been 
constantly employed. It would also be incomplete if I did not 
notice two of Mr. Aveling's great pets, hobbies I may say, 
which he originally constructed chiefly to show that steam 
could be turned to such uses. The two machines taken 
together may be regarded as a wonderful series of combinations 
of implements for agricultural purposes. 
At the Leicester Meeting in 1868 the firm first exhibited a 
small Traction Engine fitted with a crane, for which they re- 
ceived a " Commendation." Annually it was placed at the 
disposal of the Stewards to facilitate the work of getting heavy 
exhibits into their places. This crane-engine, which soon 
obtained the nickname of " Little Tom," astonished every one 
who saw for the first time the ease and celerity with which 
heavy machinery could by it be picked up at one spot, carried 
off, and dropped at another. Out of this combination arose 
one of Mr. Aveling's most original conceptions, — that of a 
Steam Reaping Machine, for which he was awarded the Gold 
Medal of the Society after the trials of Reaping Machines at 
Leamington, held in connection with the Birmingham Show in 
1876. This novel machine (a Bell's reaper made by Crosskill, 
propelled and partially carried by Aveling's crane-engine) 
performed wonders on ordinary crops, and afterwards it was 
put by the Judges to cut a heavy crop of wheat on a steep 
hill-side after a heavy downpour of rain. Mr. Algernon Clarke 
reported to the Society that " it was weather in which reaping 
by ordinary machines was impossible ; but on all sides of the 
field, except ascending the steepest gradient, the steam reaper 
proved itself able to cut. Mr. Aveling, icitli that indomitable 
energy and fertility of resource for which he is famous, would not 
be overmastered by even the steep slippery ascent, and by 
means of spikes on the wheels on the Friday, in the absence 
of biting irons which were not available until the next day, 
