WEIGHING MACHINE. 
by means of this invention agriculturalists will 
be induced to ascertain the relative value of va- 
rieties of food in the fattening of cattle, by fre- 
quently placing them on the weighing machine ; 
which will indicate the weight of the largest ox 
or loaded cart, with as much accuracy as the 
sack of corn or still lighter objects.” The prin- 
ciple of these machines admits an unlimited 
multiplicity and variety of form, adapted to 
every possible commercial exigency, and also, 
by combination with various mechanical powers, 
produces machines which, while accurately serv- 
ing every purpose of weighing, are at the same 
time perfect cranes, crabs, or turn-tables. The 
more prominent advantages of the invention are 
economy of first cost, the price being less than 
that of a common beam with its necessary appen- 
dages,—economy in time and labour during the 
operation of weighing,—durability, the machine 
seldom requiring adjusting, and admitting of the 
roughest usage without injury, and the centres 
not being exposed to wear and tear, except during 
the act of weighing,—the admitting of a greatly 
extended scale-board, without proportionally én- 
larging the size of the machine,—and the presence 
of an indicator or cock as in the common beam.— 
One form is a twenty hundred weight machine for 
weighing hay, straw, oil-cake, or any other de- 
scription of agricultural produce; and it may 
have a moveable pen connected with its scale- 
board, rendering it applicable to the weighing 
of calves, sheep, and hogs, and also to the weigh- 
ing of such loose articles as potatoes, turnips, 
and mangel - wurzel.— Another and somewhat 
similar form is provided likewise with a sliding 
frame for increasing the size of the scale-board 
at pleasure, so as to adapt it to the weighing of 
such bulky articles as hops; and has also an up- 
right rod at the back of the scale-board, furnished 
with two small chains and hooks, for conveniently 
weighing packages of wool; and may further be 
constructed with a chain-enclosed pen for weigh- 
ing sheep.—A third form, not far from akin to 
the preceding, has a large scale-board, or high 
pen, and ascents to the scale-board, for the 
weighing of cattle-—A fourth form is a five hun- 
dred weight machine for weighing by fractional 
parts. One pound in the small scale-board is 
equal to eight pounds in the large, so that to 
weigh one hundred weight of goods it is only 
necessary to place fourteen pounds on the small 
scale-board. By this means a considerable say- 
‘ing is effected in the purchase of weights, and 
weighing operations are conducted with great 
quickness, and much less labour.—A fifth form 
is a three hundred weight machine, with a ris- 
ing back, for weighing sacks and sackfuls. The 
rising back may be adjusted to any required 
height; and two arms project from its top, fur- 
nished with hooks at their extremities, for keep- 
ing open the mouth of a sack.—A sixth form is 
near akin to the preceding, but has the scale- 
board so attached to the rising back that it may 
TV 
657 
be raised to the height of a man’s shoulder, or 
to that of a cart or waggon, so as to allow a 
weighed full sack to be shifted with great facility ; 
and this form, independently of its convenient 
character as a weighing machine, is in fact a 
mechanical contrivance for raising full sacks to 
a convenient height for removal, with half the 
usual amount of labour required for lifting them 
from the ground to the shoulder or to a cart or 
waggon,—and it is therefore peculiarly suitable 
for farmers and millers.—A seventh form is a 
three-hundred weight pedestal machine, exceed- 
ingly desirable for domestic purposes, or for situ- 
ations which require the combination of elegance 
with utility. Its exterior appearance is that of 
an ornamental piece of furniture, similar to the 
pedestal of a statue, or a quadrangular, pannelled, 
corniced, high, and narrow chest; its top, which 
forms the good’s scale board, may be in marble 
if required, and will then serve as a handsome 
and useful small table; and its weighing appara- 
tus is enclosed and completely hid from view. 
This form is eminently suitable for a large kitch- 
en dairy; and it may also be provided with a 
moveable support for weighing sacks.—An eighth 
form is a machine with an even beam, with two 
scale boards of equal size, and with the beam- 
arms of equal lengths; and it is used in the same 
manner as the common balance, yet is so con- 
structed as to have no embarrassment from chains 
or cordage, and as to be capable of all the ad- 
vantageous peculiarities and adaptations of the 
seven forms which we have previously described, 
—particularly rising backs, enlarging and rising 
scale boards, pens, and hooks and arms.—A ninth 
form weighs on the principle of the steelyard, 
and also comprises rising backs, enlarging and 
rising scale-boards, and other conveniences simi- 
lar to those already noticed.—A tenth form is a 
dial weighing machine without springs, simple, 
accurate, and delicate. A number of goods ora 
multitude of separate bodies are weighed by it 
with great rapidity ; and as it requires no weights, 
the labour of shifting them, and the annoyance 
so frequently occasioned by losing or mislaying 
some of them, are entirely avoided; and, like all 
the preceding forms, it admits of any arrange- 
ment of the scale board.—An eleventh form is a 
weigh bridge, constructed on the parallelometal 
principle, ensuring great accuracy of result, with 
little or no liability to go out of repair; for when 
the bridge is not in use, it does not rest upon its 
centres, and therefore cannot be injured by any 
amount of traffic passing over it.—Other forms 
are different kinds of weighing cranes suitable 
for granaries, warehouses, docks, wharves, and 
railways, or indeed for any places and purposes 
where heavy goods or objects require to be both 
lifted and weighed. The construction of these 
cranes is exceedingly simple ; the positions of the 
jib, winch, chain-break, and other parts of the 
ordinary crane, are in no way altered; nor are 
the movements of the crane at all obstructed. 
Pai 
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