Report on tJie Trials of Implements at Oxford. 483 
and the travelling web, and we are inclined to think that this, and the angle 
at wliich the teeth are set in reference to the feed-rollers, has much to do with 
jiroper delivery. In some cases the point of the tooth is brought too forward, 
and the back of the tooth is too long; so that either the litter is not caught 
by the teeth, or else, being caught, it is carried round, instead of being left at 
the mouth of the box. It will be seen by the table that this machine made 
extraordinary work. The cut was clean and continuous, and the sample in 
consequence particularly even ; and, although not so fine as in some other cases 
it fultilled the required conditions. 
;V BentaWs Machine (No. 959), which was bracketed as equal with that of 
Picksley, Sims, and Co., was considered strong, simple, and serviceable. The 
frame is of wrought angle iron with cast top ; the mouth of the box, 15i inches 
wide, by 4 inches high, when fully open. The lly-wheel has three knives, which 
lap over each other, each knife being fixed by 10 set screws. The feed-rollers are 
solid, and carry 18 rows of teeth, which resemble those of Richmond and Chandler 
Fig. 7.— Plan of BcntalVs aiaff-cutter. No. 959. 
shape, and_^are not unlike the upper beak of a hawk. Three lengths of chaff are in 
cut without change of wheels, and this is eiiected by three gearing-wheels cast 
in one piece, sliding on the line-shaft, which will be understood by the preceding 
illustration, from a photograph. The working parts ai'e well covered, and the 
position of the lever-handle, coming above the top of the box, would enable 
the workman, in the event of an accident, to stop or reverse the machine very 
readily. Supposing that his arm were drawn into the feed-rollers, his body 
must come in contact with the handle sufficiently to throw the rollers out of 
gear. Another commendable arrangement is the existence of a sjn-ing attached 
to the handle, which prevents the reverse gearing coming into action, except 
pressure is put on the handle. Unless some stop is provided in the attempt to 
stop the rollers, the handle is often and unavoidably, turned too far, and the 
rollers reversed. The fl^'-wheel is flanged and heavier than is often the case, 
which increases the steadiness in work. The price, without the driving-pulley, is 
14?. 14s., reasonable, considering the amount of good work jnit into this machine. 
Picksley, Sims, and Co., have been for several years extensively connected 
with the manufactui'c of chaffcutters, and, from the character of the machines 
exhibited at Oxford, it is evident they understand how to make a good chafi- 
cutter. The peculiarities of the power-machine, No. 3182 in the Catalogue, 
will be most readily understood by the following plan : — 
A, main-driving shaft ; B, clutch on driving-shaft, fitted with parallel keys; 
C and D, bevel pinions (with clutch-teeth on inner face), working loose on 
driving-shaft, and each gearing in the bevel-wheel E, F handle for shifting 
the clutch, B, into gear with the bevel pinions C or D, as may be required. 
