456 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Noy., 1899. 
The Gawler River machine was propelled from behind by bullocks for some 
years, but after some experiments the steering gear was altered to a chain con- 
trivance, similar to the steering gear on vessels. Finally the rack and worm 
were adopted. The wheels of this machine are now in the possession of Messrs. 
Martin and Co., having been presented to the Gawler firm by Mx. S. L. Dawkins, 
the gon of Mr. John Dawkins, and son-in-law of Mr. John Wilkinson. The 
wheels are 3 feet 6 inches high, and made of iron, with cast-iron naves, the 
spokes being screwed into the naves, and fixed up with lead run into the joints. 
The near wheel was fixed on the axle, and the driving power applied to the off 
side. Now the near-side wheel is used for this purpose. 
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STRIPPER. 
But efficient as was the machine made by Mr. Ridley, the stripper of to-day 
is a vastly improved implement. In cost, efficiency, and draught those of the 
best South Australian makers at the present time are a great advance upon the 
pioneer of the forties. To go no further back than the fifties. The Hon. 
James Martin got £150 for the first reaping machine he made; to-day the 
modern article is obtainable for less than £50! In construction, weight has 
disappeared at no cost of strength, and the draught is estimated to be at least 
one-third less. Then, too, in completeness of threshing, avoidance of loss, and 
adaptibility to varying conditions of weather, the latest product of the mechanical 
skill is a triumph compared to its prototype. 
It was not long before the principle of propulsion from behind had to give 
place to the side application of the power. ‘The late Mr. Adamson was the first 
to adopt this, and it was at once recognised as an improvement. Then came the 
invention of the thimble comb by Messrs. Martin and Co., of Gawler. This 
obviated the loss of grain, which was inevitable with the flat-toothed comb 
previously in use. The benefit of this invention was a gift to the public, as 
Messrs. Martin and Co. decided not to protect themselves by patent. Not long 
after this the farmers, led by the Hon. James Martin—himself a farmer as well 
as a manufacturer—dispensed with the extra man, and made one hand do the 
work of driving and steering. The reduction of the draught and the advance to 
greater simplicity made this substantial saving of labour possible. Of late years 
the most useful improvement has been the damp-weather gear. This permits 
reaping to be done much more expeditiously, and the machine probably saves its 
total cost in a year or two in the prevention of loss by storms, &c., and through 
the wheat remaining unreaped. ‘There have been numerous improvements in 
details. One of these is the adoption of self-adjusting bearers for the beaters. 
As showing the natural conservatism of farmers in these matters, the first 
season this improvement was introduced by the late Mr. Fred. May into Martin 
and Co.’s machines every farmer but one, an Irishman, preferred the old style. 
Now the use of these bearings is universal! ‘The superiority of the South 
Australian machine over those of the other colonies is admitted, and several 
hundreds are exported to the sister provinces every season. The original 
stripper was an inspiration; the machine of to-day is a revelation! The 
pioneer reaper was a rough diamond; the modern article a polished gem! It 
has enabled the farmer to live during the present cycle of low prices, where 
otherwise he would have starved. 
THE PLOUGH. 
Although the plough is not a South Australian invention, South Australia 
can claim to have greatly improved and adapted it to local requirements. At 
the outset of farming in this colony, wooden ploughs were the popular imple- 
ment, and wooden ploughs and harrows were amongst the first implements made 
by the Hon. James Martin when he started at Gawler. They were soon super- 
seded by iron, and at first English ‘manufacturers did a considerable trade 
in them. Tater, the colonial article established a strong footing, and 
is now highly popular. The prejudice which at first existed against 
the use of iron ploughs is illustrated by the story which is told about the Duke 
es 
