TRIAL OF HOWARD’S NEW ENGLISH STRING BINDER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6505, 2 January 1882, Page 5

TRIAL OF HOWARD’S NEW ENGLISH STRING BINDER.

For some days past, esya a Bathurst (N.S.W.) paper, the farmers and others interested in agriculture have been looking forward to the trial of Howard’s new English reaper and binder, which took place yesterday on the farm of Mr Schofield, near Kelso. The field selected for the trial was very suitable, and the crop of wheat from very heavy to very light, so that the operations could bo seen to great advantage, testing the capabilities of the machine perfetly. The formation of the sheaf is always looked upon by farmers as a point of interest. The machine under notice forms its sheafs with nice square butts which, as a natural result, give the other end of the sheaf a fan-like appearance, which is not only handsome but perhaps the very best form for drying which could be assumed. This is the first English binder introduced into the Colony, ■ and it gives us great pleasure to be able to report favourably of the working of this machine. A considerable number of farmers and others interested were on the ground, who have had many opportunities of judging the best machines of the kind hitherto in use, and the generally expressed opinion was that the Howard binder is thoroughly reliable, and well calculated to give satisfaction. In appearance the machine resembles in some degree the American binders, well known in this district, but is worked with considerably less chain gearing’, and simplified iu many other respects. A single steel spindle, running the entire length of the binder table, works the needle, the packer, and the reel for bringing the grain to the knives, the whole being thrown in or out of gear by a simple movement of the driver’s foot. The gear for working the knot tiros is carried on large studs firmly fitted into an iron plate forming the front end of tho binding table. The bearings of tho counter shaft and bovil gear, instead of being carried separately on tho cross hors of the frame, rest in a horseshoe casting which bridges over the space, making a flrto bod for the gearing, and securing it from being shifted out of position by the vibration inseparable from rough work. All the principal bearings are brass bushed, and malleable iron is extensively used, tho oiling arrangements are very good, and speaking generally, the machine is substantially built. Besides the ordinary polo for working two or throe horses, Messrs Howard have added a pair of light shafts, and fitted axles, wheels, &0., for drawing tho machine, end on, through any ordinary gateway. The twine used is Manilla, and the knot a loop drawn tight, tho ends cut short, so that there is no waste.