Miscellaneous Implements Exhibited at Chester. 559 
it, and in doing so lifts one end of a long lever — pivoted near 
its centre to the frame of the machine. This depresses the 
opposite end and throws the conveyor prong shaft out of gear 
till the truss is tied, and the cam has completed a revolution. 
This brings the depression on its circumference to the position 
which enables a projection on the above lever to drop into it 
and so resume its original position, when the conveyors are 
again free to work. The feature mentioned is important, as it 
goes far to ensure separation, and without it no binding mecha- 
nism is satisfactory. The hanging knotter bracket, instead of 
sliding on the knotter shaft as formerly, is made in two parts, 
which together embrace the shaft, and so give less trouble to 
mount and dismount. A gear lever with one motion puts all 
the parts out of gear, viz., the conveyor prongs, the packers, 
and the binding mechanism, and at the same time leaves the 
chain running. A loose hanging arm takes up the slack string 
by its own gravity. 
This completes the list of awards of Silver Medals. 
Other Exhibits. 
Article 534. Joseph G. Howe, Denbigh House, Aylesbury. 
Self Closing Gate, price 11. 5s . — This attracted considerable at- 
tention, and the novelty was chiefly in the construction of the 
hanging irons. The upper hook is made of flat iron, about lx| 
inch, twisted to a screw on which the eye fits and revolves, rising 
up the screw in opening, and falling by its own weight in closing, 
guided by the screw to its original position. It was exhibited 
at Chester as a bridle gate, and indeed it is a question whether 
a hook so formed would stand the strain of a field gate and 
remain in truth for a length of time, as the sectional area would 
be very small even when new, and rust would be apt to destroy 
flat iron of this thickness very quickly, whilst an ordinary black- 
smith could scarcely renew or repair it. It should be remem- 
bered that any gate can be made to close automatically with 
certainty, and with any degree of force required, by a proper 
adjustment of ordinary hooks and bands, and these should last 
out two gates, say forty or fifty years. It is unfortunate that 
very few carpenters understand the simple rules which bring 
about this result. 
Article 678. Alexander Wood & Sons, Stockwell Street, 
Glasgow. “ Smithfield ” Weighing Machine, for carts, cattle, &c. 
Weighs up to 3 tons, price 37 1. 10s. — The great convenience of 
this weighing machine lies in the fact that it is not necessary to 
remove the cattle pen to enable carts to be weighed. It is only 
