THRESHING MACHINES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1887, 11 March 1880, Page 3

THRESHING MACHINES.

A reoent telegram from Sydney stated that Messrs Bobey and Company were awarded the first prize by the judges appointed to decide upon the merits of the threshing machines exhibited at the Sydney International Exhibition. The Sydney "Telegraph" of February 13th gives the following account of the trial: —The competition of threshing machines in connection with the International Exhibition took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10th and 11th inst., at the farm of Mr Worboys, of Spring Hill, near Orange. The engines and threshers arrived on Friday and Saturday last, and were, with the ex ception of one or two, drawn to the soeno of the contest by Messrs Fowler and Sons' traction engine, kindly lent by their representative for the occasion. The priority in contest was determined by lot, the first lot falling to that of Messrs Marshall and Son, the others following thus : —Bobey and Co., Foster and Sons, B. Homsby and Sons, Buston, Proctor and Co., and the celebrated Buffalo Pitts. Two hours were allowed to thresh 100 bushels, failing this the machiao was disqualified. Messrs Marshall and Son's thresher, whioh has a five feet drum, and specially finished tor this Exhibition, was soon put into position, and had a preliminary trial, which, being over, screens were adjusted and work began. First sample was all that could be desired, but for the enormous loss of wheat with the cavings; this, however, was greatly modified. Although constant attention was paid to the work, a good result could not be gained. Time for threshing 106 bushels was fifty-two minutes. We can only say that the work might have been better. Time being called, Messrs Bobey and Co.'s machinery was the next placed in position, all being adjusted within the time allotted, and the work, aiter preliminary trial, waß proceeded with, no hitch or stoppage of any kind interfering in any way from first to last. The work was performed quicker and better than (it eventually turned out) any machine on the ground, wheat well cleaned, wild oats extracted, very little wheat cracked, and only three-fourths of a pint found among the cavings, after being thoroughly winnowed by one of Messrs Hornsby's patent winnowers. The 100 bushels were threshed in the short space of forty-one minutes, and had a second trial been considered neceßsary, Messrs Bobey and Co.'s representative asserted their confidence that it could be done in less time. We desire to call special attention to this machine, being the only thresher in the colony with wrought angular iron frame, thereby rendering the machine rigid, bearings always true, not affected by exposure to the weather, as the wood in connection with the angle iron makes it impossible to shrink. This machine was admired by all present, and we have no doubt that this class of machine will, when more generally known, undoubtedly become the favourite among the farmers of New South Wales. Those already sold have given ample satisfaction. Messrs Foster and Sons' thresher came next, but the work was not done to the satisfaction of either their representatives or visitors, though the former worked hard to ensure success. Wednesday morning Messrs Hornsby and Son's thresher was in position before competitors had appeared on the ground, having been placed there the preceding evening. They also had a preliminary trial at early morn, which was not in accordance with the rules of the contest, and on this being made known to the judges, they immediately stayed proceedings, held a meeting, and disqualified this firm from competing ; but, at the same time, left it to the option of the other exhibitors whether they would allow Messrs Hornsby and Son's threshing maobine to work for an haur in order that spectators might judge of its capabilities, to which the spectators had no objection ; the result being that 68 bushels were threshed in 50 minutes, not equal to Messrs Bobey and Co., or Marshall and Sons. Messrs Euston, Proctor and Co. had no better success than their predecessors, being unfortunate in the constant slipping of belts, and no better result in cleaning the wheat oould be attained. Buffalo Pitts Co. 'a thresher next came, everyone being on the tip-toe of excitement as to its capabilities, much being expected from the statements of its exhibitor. Contrary to these expectations, however, this machine did not yield the desired result, and was, after mature consideration of the judges, disqualified from further working—the oats being mixed with the wheat, and wheat and straw being damaged in the working. Our American cousin—nothing daunted—hopes soon to remedy these defects, and intends, if possible, to wrest the prize from the winners on some futuro field. The judges, whose duty it was to see fair and honorable competition, performed thoir work to the entire satisfaction of all concerned—in fact the ex hibitors are very much pleased in bearing testimony to their honest decisions throughout the whole competition." The Ohristchur.ch agents of Messrs Bobey and Co. are the National Mortgage and Agency Co., and Messrs G. King and Co.