410 Report on Steam Cultivation at Newcastle. 
Class VIII. 
Rope-porters. 
Messrs. Aveling and Porters Travelling-carriages, and sonic improvements in 
the ordinary Porters by Messrs. Coleman and Morton, were the only novelties 
in this class. 
The Travelling-porters arc intended to carry the implement rope, the outer 
rope being best carried by the ordinary three-wheel porters. The object is to 
save friction of the rope and labour to the boys, who are placed at either end 
of the work, and have to unhitch or hitch on the porters as the case may be. 
Mr. Aveling worked them on Saturday with Messrs. Garrett's Double 
Engines, the single rope of this system showing them off to advantage. On 
level land they answer admirably, saving the rope considerably — strong lads 
are required to manage them. The carriages consist of two light travelling- 
wheels supporting a hollow iron rod (one-inch gas-pipe), with a V clip at 
cither end. One end terminates in a handle, and the other in a coil, which 
passes round the rope, and allows of the rope being picked up, so to speak, 
whilst in motion, and it is held tight by the V clips, which are worked by a 
trigger-piece. The arrangements are so good in this respect that the porter 
and rope appear as one, and away it runs over rough ground or smooth, 
jumping about, it may be, but never becoming detached. In working very 
hilly land this system woidd not answer so well, as in such cases we often 
require a fixed porter at a certain point, to prevent the rope grubbing on the 
ground. These carriages cost 31. a-piece, and as 6 to 8 would be required in 
a length of 350 yards, besides as many large porters for the outer rope, the 
expense is therefore considerable. If, however, a real saving in the rope is 
effected, which experience can alone decide, this is not a material point, and we 
consider the Travelling-porters an ingenious and promising invention. 
Messrs. Coleman and Morton exhibit improvements in both small and largo 
porters, which are deserving of notice. The friction-wheel on the large porter 
is hung upon an upright, that has sufficient play to allow of the wheel inclining 
to any moderate angle according to the stress of the rope. If, as is not un- 
frequently the case, the porter is set down badly or pushed out of its course, 
the pulley-wheel adapts itself to the direction of the rope and undue friction is 
avoided. 
In the small porter, the pulley-wheel works loose on the axle, which is of 
some length. When at work the inclination of the axle causes the pulley to 
remain close to one side ; when, however, the rope is to be caught, the pulley 
slides to the opposite end of the axle, where a guide iron is fixed, which directs 
the rope on to the wheel. This ingenious arrangement appeared to work satis- 
factorily. 
Our Award was as follows : — 
101. to Messrs. Aveling and Porter, for Travelling-porters. 
51. to Messrs. Coleman and Morton for Improvements in ordinary Porters. 
Highly Commended. John Fowler. 
Commended. J. and F. Howard. 
In conclusion, we may state that the great feature of the Newcastle Steam 
Trials, as indicating progress since the Worcester Meeting, consists in the use of 
, two engines working simultaneously. The Double Engine system appears now 
to be fairly started, and likely for many purposes to supersede the Anchor 
arrangements. Nor must we forget that the clip-drum is the parent of this 
system, for with no other windlass used for steam cultivation could it have 
been possible. We may notice the high finish of Messrs. Fowler's and 
Howard's machinery, and the increased strength of the various parts to bear 
