A New Flax Scraper.

Manawatu Herald, 22 December 1900, Page 3

A New Flax Scraper.

To-day wo had the pleasure of inspecting a new machine for scraping the flax in the wash, the invention of Mr Oswald Gardner. The machine has been erected at the Messrs Austin's hemp mill, and they courteously gave us all information. / The machine supersedes the old profess : originally when the blade of flax liad passed through the stripper it was /placed in the wash-trough of running / water and scraped with a wooden tool / by the washer. Now a machine does the duty of the man, much more effectually and cheaper. The wooden scrapers are worked by steam and makes eve 1 movements down the flax, that is, the way the water runs, and than rises to commence anew. It makes about twelve journeys a minute, and the fibre is well scraped and appears almost white when taken out, and the water of the wash is made very green by the pressure. The machine is an advance in the dressing of flax, as the green outer leaf, left after stripping, is forcibly removed by the scraper, which enables the fibre to dry and bleach sooner in the paddock. Every miller should inspect its work.