The Trials of Self '-binding Harvesters at Chester. 721 
connecting-rod to a crank in the rocking-shaft which carries the 
compressor. 
The greater portion of the binding mechanism is thus plainly 
to be seen on the forward end of the machine, while in No. 5171 
it is concealed from view under the binder platform, which, 
however, is so arranged that access for oiling and cleaning is 
readily obtained. 
In both of Messrs. Hornsby's machines the form of the 
under side of the platfoim and the inclination of the finger bar, 
as well as the height of the forward end of the gearing frame 
from the ground, are such that they suffered comparatively little 
from the molehills and rough ground over which they worked, 
and which presented serious obstacles to some of the competing 
machines. 
The Massey-H arris Co.’s Open-backed Harvester , No. 4031. 
The main frame of this machine is D-shaped in plan, and 
is composed of steel bars 2-| in. wide by f in. thick, bent 
into a U form, the smaller U fitting inside the larger one, their 
ends running double to the off side of the machine, where they 
are joined to the angle steel which forms the foundation of the 
platform, the angle steel being brought in a curve and joined 
to a substantial angle steel finger-bar, and braced by a rod 
running diagonally from the front inner corner to the back 
outer corner. That part of the main frame to which the master 
wheel is attached is doubly strengthened by a double truss, also 
of angle steel. The main frame carries a braced steel super- 
structure, to which the elevating and binding gears are attached. 
The draft pole is attached by a broad steel plate securely 
clipped to a bracket on the front of the main frame ; also by a 
brace, at an acute angle, from the pole to the main shoe ; and 
again by double straps clipped to the pole, and connected to a 
lever by means of which the driver can alter the height of cut 
and inclination of the platform. No bolts are required to attach 
the pole to the machine. 
The main wheel is 36 in. in diameter by 9 in. wide, and 
has a wooden rim about 1 in. thick, shod with a steel tyre, 
and is constructed in some respects on the same principle as the 
wheels in Nos. 5171 and 5172, the difference belno- that it 
does not require any tangent stay to maintain the relative 
position of the sprocket driving wheel, provision being made, 
by an ingenious sliding hub, to keep the main wheel in all its 
parts stiff and rigid. 
The main wheel revolves on a fixed axle which is capable of 
VOL. iv. T. s. — 16 3 B 
