TRIAL OF FLAX MACHINES.

Southland Times, Issue 1218, 4 March 1870, Page 2

TRIAL OF FLAX MACHINES.

(Prom the Auckland Herald.) f ■ On Thursday, Feb. 3, Thocnas Macfarlane, E*q., M.G-.A:, placed the Dundee Flax Mills at the disposal of Messrs Fraser and Tinne, Price, Gibbons and Co., in. order to / t tliein' an opportunity of testing the respective merits of their flax machines. _ A quantity of fl »x was weighed, and handed over for trial by each machine. Messrs Fraser and Tinne had a new machine of their usual construction. Messrs Price had a new machine of an entirely different description to any hitherto turned out by them, the drum being larger in diaaieter, and the feed rollers driven by a separate belt. Messrs Gribbons's machine was one that had been working for some time at their mills. The time allowed for the machines to run was one hour and fifteen minutes, and the result was as follows :— Messrs Fraser and Tinne's machine dressed 5 cwt. . Messrs Price's dressad 6 cwt 3 qrs. Messrs Gibbons' s dressed 6 cwt. 2 qrt. Messrs Fraser and Tinne's machine had also a different feed-mouth from any. of those hitherto used by them. Competent judges are of opinion that it would ' be anjmprovement on all the machines ifthe feed-mouths Were made wider, with a gradual tapering to the feedrrollera. Messrs Fraser and Tinne's machine ran very s;noothly, and did its work well. It was, however, driven at a disadvantage, owing to which it was unable to put, through as much as it would have, done had it been otherwise driven. But little power is requisite to drive the machine. The beaters act upon a plate, adjusted from screws behind, so that anything going wrong can be easily put in order. The feeder is driven by a separate belt, and acts with great regularity, and is a. most us ful machine, doing . its work well. Messrs Price's machine, being a new one, had been got up with considerable taste, and showed a decided improvement on others of their manu-i facture. The "beaters' are mucn ! closer ;! than in the old one, aud in the form of a, V. The feed of this machine is driven' by a belt separate to the machine, and beats on one of the rollers. Owing, to these arrangements, however, the rollers having to be so much more compressed, : it takes more power to drive the feed than the machine itself requires. There were five stoppages in the feeding during the trial, and there was some difficulty in '* getting the machine — which otherwise worked well — to take the flax with large butt ends. This difficulty could be obviated by putting in a stationary beatery and only allowing the rollers to feed. Were this small alteration made, this would be a most useful machine, and surpass their old machines eutirelv. Gibbons's machine, having been wrought for some time, two machines were fitted " on one frame, but only one was worked during the trial; It also did its work / remarkably well, met with no stoppage, arid is a machine simple in construction, easily kept in order, and tabes little - power to drive. Altogether, it is a mostuseful machine, and will do a large amount of work. The feed is driven by a belt separate from the machine ; thebeater acts upon a bar -which has four squares. On anything going wrong it can be turned to another square, and when worn out can be easily replaced. The trial was of ihe most satisfactpgr kind, and was a credit to the variou* makers, who deserve the thanks of the community for the care, attention, and ingenuity they have displayed in bringing these machines to the perfect state that they are now in. No doubt, Messrs Fraser and Tinne being the first in the field, have had to contend against many difficulties, and ■-■■■„ great credit is due to themj but they have now in Messrs Price and (Gibbons two rivals to contend with, and the rivalry which gives the public a choice of machines is also a guarantee that each manufacturer will do his best to render them perfect in detail, and of good manufacture.

The great point to be considered is simplicity of construction and noit» . liability to get out of order, as it must be most disheartening to those working far from the makers- when anything goe» wrong with a complex machine, for they must remain for a length of time idle before they can get the most ordinary mischance repaired. In a measure to avoid this, feed-rollers, beaters, and adjusting screws should. be all supplied in . duplicate. One thing is worthy of remark; it applies to the local tanners. The leather supplied by them for .betts is far from being up to the mark, and, they will ; have to; make considerable* improvement in their preparation of this material ' before they will induce peppfc to refraia from sending elsewhere for 4£', ; ' It was stated lately in the BaUarat West Goon- ■••■;•.■ cil that thousands o£ sheep,«e sold: in the local i cattle yards at 3d and 41 each i .; •