THE M'KAY HARVESTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 2507, Issue XXXI, 4 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE M'KAY HARVESTER.

„>—i, For many years it hns been the practice f to decry everything colonial, especially if f tlio Australian natives have anything to | rlo with it, but, of lute, yomiir Australia has come to the front-, not only ill invun- ] tivo but constructive genius, and h:is shown herself, through her sons, capable of computing very favourably .with the mechanics of the old world. The inauguration of Juvenile Exhibitions had much to do in bringing about this result, and now we find that the young colonial is able to hold his own with and oven outstrip his conj'n-re of tho Mntlior Land. We have been led to these remarks by an inspection of the. Improved Combination Harvester, invented and constructed by Messrs M'Kay Bros., who have developed mechanical talents of a very high order, which they have turned in the direction of producing an invaluable boon to the farmer in constructing and perfecting a harvester which, worked by a man and three horses, performs all tho harvesting operations heretofere requiring tho assistance of several men, including stripping, threshing, winnowing and bagging, and this while the machine is performing its primary functions in a most satisfactory way, at well as 'with economy. Messrs M'Kay first produced their machine in ISSS, and during the show Heasou of that year, succeeded in training nine (0)„/7>vJi prizes, viz., special first at Talbot Grand National Show October Bth, first at Tungamah on same date; first (gold medal), Sandhurst; October 21st; first., Benalla, for beet invention for the year, October Ist and 2nd ; first, Elmore, October 14th ; Wedderburu, October 25th ; first, Boort, field trial, December 9th ; first, Tatura, field trial, December 15th; and first,' Tungamah, field trial, December 16th ; winning £150 in prizes during the first threo mouths in which tho machine was exhibited, winning also the Government prize of £100 for complete harvester, January 6th, 1886. More romained to be done, however.—Messrs McKay Bros. 1 ■were not satisfied. Though eager; for honours, they were also eager to give the farmers the most complete machine with-' in their conception, and, accordingly, they aetto work t» perfect their original invention, and they have now succeeded in producing a Combination Harvester, which bids fair to earn for itself tho designation of tho ne plus >i!lrrt among tho farmers' friends. An examination of tho - machine — several of which are now in course of construction at Munro's Agricultural Implement Manufactory, Ballarat—-reveals, by comparison, many—very many—improvements, not only on the machines of other makes, but on Messrs M'Kay's" first— though very successful—efforts. In. this connection Mr Hugh V. M'Kay desires to acknowledge tho assi»taace rendered in perfecting the machine by Messrs 'M. Caiman, Garda, and Co., Mr Peter Ellis, of Pickles and Sons (Limited), Sandhurst, Mr John M'Kay, and Messrs A. B. and J. B. Munro, Ballarat. Passing by the comb, which takes off tho heads and delivers them to a beater, which, in combination with a diamoud concave, effects the operation of threshing, we come to an invaluable feature of the Harvester. Here we note that, by an ingenious contrivance* easily worked by tho driver with one hand, the comb is elevated, or depressed, according to the height of the crop, and without tho necessity of stopping the machine —a vast improvement on the old screw sometimos styled the " worm and rack," —both as to the facility with which the alteration is effected, and the convenience to tho driver, who, as we have said, is enabled to work the machine, at all points, single-handed. The heads being taken off by the revolving beater—which also threshes out the grain—they are thrown on to a screen, which effectually separates all small grain, wild oats and seconds, which fall into a box under the machine. This needs to be emptied only about twice a day. The clean grain goes into a | shoot, which delivers it into an elevator, which iu turn delivers it into a hopper having two spouts, through which it passes into bags placed under the spouts. | Both tho elevator and regulator are . driven by a single chain. The riddle is so constructed that it is absolutsly im- , possible for any untiireshed ears to pass through ; they must return to be rethreshed. The chaff is got rid of by a , very simple process. At the rear of the machine a fan is at work, driving off the | chaff, which can, if need arise, be carried , and deposited in heaps, and the machine [ is so constructed as to be freely worked despite the point from which the wind ! may be blowing. The position of the fan ' also, being in the rear of the ' machine, is a great advantage, which other machines do not possess. It may be mentioned hera that such is the ! construction of a ball eccentric, which works the riddle, and gives it a smooth, easy, and even motion, it matters not in what position the machine is in the field —it works with perfect ease, the riddle maintaining a perfect level owing to the peculiarity of its construction. Another ! peculiarity of the M'Kay harvester is '■ that the bags, while being filled, are : shaken by an oscillating bar, which : causes them to fill to their utmost capacity. The bags tliemselvos are provided for the driver, ready sewn, a space beiug left to admit the spouts which fill them. If desired bags can be provided by the ' patentees, with the machine. While at the factory, wo saw the first ordinary shipping machine turned out by Mr : Munro in 1875, and on examination of 1 this, in comparison with tho M'Kay ! Harvester showed the incomparable superiority of tho latter over the former, which was built for Mr Robt. Glover, of Irving, Glover and Co., and which has 1 been sent back in order to have it fitted ; with the appliances of tho M'Kay 1 machine. This illustrates the advance in construction in a few years. A further, an important improvement iu Messrs M'Kay's invention is to he found in the fact that, while in other machines a great portion of the weight carried is thrown on the off-side wheel, it is borne, in the M'Kay patent, on the main driving wheel, which is both wide : and strong, thus giving not only stability but providing against undue draught ,in soft ground. This last is one of the improvements introduced during the present year. The superiority of the M' Kay Harvester hay abundant testimony borne to it by numerous testimonials 1 which we have seen, and from which we append.extracts, and with such favour has it been received, orders are continually flowing in, and then apart from the ordinary work of the manufactory of Messrs Munro, the establishment presents the 1 appearance of a busy hive, with the many artisans engaged on the numerous harvesters in course of construction. Here are to be seen piles of all parts of the machine in various stages of completion—tons of castings of all kinds —loads of timber—scores of axles—piles of galvanised iron, etc., etc., and as each portion has its own allotted artisans, when once the building of a machino is undertaken, it is not long before the complete harvester is an accomplished fact. Tho harvester can be supplied at the Ballarat Railway Station for £100, which, considering the saving effected both in staple and in wages brings it so cheaply before the fanner, that wo look for still further orders, and that early—when the machine, in its present improved character, has been brought under "public notice. Appended are some extracts from a few out of many testimonials received by Messrs M'Kay. Those misht bo multiplied, but enough is shown to excite general interest iu the farming districts. Full patent rights have been secured by Messrs M'Kay, Bros., proprietors and patentees, whoso address is Ballarat, (late Sandhurst), such rights being valid throughout Australia. The Editor, Cootamundra Herald, writes: — "With such a machine, our farmers could, and would greatly extend their areas and cultivation." Mr George Jackson, Waringlocir, says: " Tho threshing power is the best I ever saw. I shipped when it was raining l , other machines had to knock off." Mr W. Anderson, Ping

Hills, Altoar, writes : " Tho patent; harvester gives complete satisfaction. lam fully convinced tho harvester will be the only machinc in use in hot and dry districts," Mr Edward Tnvlor, Roso Hill, Young, writes: "The harvester did good woi'lt, and I am well satisfied." Messrs E.-J. Allen and Co., Young, report: — "Both our harvester and Mr Taylor's aro working very well." This machine will be on view at the Melbourne International Exhibition.