L-K-G. MILKING MACHINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2124, 5 July 1907, Page 1

L-K-G. MILKING MACHINE.

A successful public demonstration io( the Lawerence-Kennedy-Gillios Milking Machine was given at Mr. C. Honoyfield’s Beach Farm at Tataraimaka oil Wednesday June 5. At the conclusion of the demonstration a

“Daily Mail” representative interviewed a 'representative of the “L-K-G.,” who stated that on the 31st January last 544 machines were actually in use in New Zealand. In Australia over 1300 machines are working, while in a letter received by the last mail from the American agents of the “L-Iv-G.” adviSos that over 1700 machines have been sold to date. In Groat Britain the progress has been much slower, but recent newspaper reports show that in Scotland especially, the farming community is last gaining confidence through tho practical results that have been obtained. These results have only been secured after five years’ patient, waiting unUntil the machines had been used

completely won over. It will still be fresh in the memory of many Taranaki farmers that the Thistle, Brookside, and even more recent machines, including the original “Laweronce-Ivennedy,” ■ resulted in disastrous failure. All these machines, and also many others before them, were placed on the market with perfect confidence by their inventors. The results show how easily even the inventor can be deceived. There is only one reliable method of finding out if a milking machine is a complete success, and that is by putting them into the bands of a number ol practical farmers who intend to use the machines to hell) them earn their living. If after watching the effects on the cows, and the bank account, for two full seasons, these men state that, the machine is a success, t&en some reliable evidence has been secured.

Numbers of previous machines apleJired to work satisfactorily for a

few mouths, but in every instance the final result was complete failure. A 'knowledge of these facts was responsible for the cautious policy adopted when introducing the “L-Iv-G.” to New Zealand over five years ago. Until the machines had been used by a number of farmers for close on four seasons,, the agents did not feel justified in drawing the attention of the public to the results achieved. Had the results been the same as with every previous milking machine, the “L-Iv-G.” would have quietly sunk out of sight and no one except the agents would have been any the worse. However, Gillies’ patents turned out to be the one chance in a thousand which succeeds, and after four years’ use the “L-Iv-G.” proved conclusively to the public, before they were asked to buy, that the problem of milking by machinery had been solved.

Tho secret of tlie“L.lv.G’s” success is securely covered bv patent rights consequently cannot be used by other inventors. The “L-Iv-G.” can therefore claim to be the first machine which has established in the public mind the possibility of successful mechanical milking. So completely has this confidence been established that the public are apt to overlook the fact that as yet. tho “L-Iv-G.” is the machine that has been thoroughly tested by practical use. Owing to incomplete knowledge of the principles of milking by suction many people are apt to got wrong impressions o many points. Over milking is looked upon as the great danger to be overcome. If this were all, it would surely be practicable to keep a sufficiently close watch and remove the cups by hand as soon as tho flow stops This disadvantage in early machines would not have boon sufficient to condemn their use. The real facts are that all machines prior to the “L-Iv-G.” injured the cows while the milk was actually being drawn, and it was to overcome this defect that Gillies adopted the same system as the calf, namely to combine suction with pressure while at flip same time admitting sufficient air for the machine to “swallow” the milk and also relieve the stress on the teats.

The calf must draws its breath, otherwise "dead” suction is the result. By inletting the air alongside the teats there is no possible chance of injury to the cow during milking or at any time, even if the cups were left on indefinitely. The cow is protected automatically from the moment the cups are applied. The amount of vacuum shown on the gauge is also misleading. Whereas the gauge near the “L-K-G” pump shows 18 inches, the vacuum in the cup on the teats alternates from 15 to 5 at least 45 times a minute. The high suction on the gauge, is necessary to prevent the ail' that’ goes in from breaking down the vacuum on the teats altogether. It is aso erroneously believed that if a low ucuum used to keep the bups in position that by using a higher vacuum between the inflation and the aivtfil cup an advantage is •ocured. Tin actual facts are that the amount of squeeze depends entirely on fhe amount of vacuum that is inside Ihe cup. No matter how high the v ac 'llum may be between the mention and the cup it can only serve tin. purpose of drawing back the inflation and relieving the squeeze in placo i>r increasing it. On the principle of not puttMg all your eggs in one basket, the '‘L-h G employs two, three or tnoie pn-satprs as may he required. If only, ope 1 ujsator were used for tho wliole shed and anything wont lyrong with it, the entire milking wquld stop whereas with the “L-Iv-fl.” if one pulsator stops, the others can still com- • plete the work even if it does fake a little longer time- ; It is pleasant to record that as a result 1 of the public cpfidenco m the “L-K-G.” orders are coming in very rapidly, and already more machines are oh order for the ensuring season than the total installed during the past season. Intending purchasers will he well advised to order early it disappointment is to he avoided.