Thwaites, R: Cyrus Hall McCormick and the Reaper

Excerpt from Cyrus Hall McCormick and the Reaper: 1809-1909, Commemorating the Centenary of the Birth of Cyrus Hall McCormick, Inventor of the Reaper

It would not su¿'ice to advance a plane cutting edge against the grain, or to use revolving blades or automatic shears - these had been abundantly tried by prior inventors, and all had met with irretrievable failure. The matter of developing and apply ing the requisite power was also of primary importance; this could only be obtained from the rotation of wheels under trac tion, and the amount was limited to the draft power of the team. The machine must therefore be reduced to a minimum of weight, lest it be too cumbersome to be propelled and guided over rough surfaces. The most economical method of applying draught is on the central line of resistance; yet in this machine, where economy in draught and equalization of strains are so essential, the team cannot travel directly in front of the cutting apparatus without trampling and shelling the grain. Most of the early inventors had arranged to place the team in the rear, thus mak ing a push machine. The drawing for mccormick 's first patent illustrated alternative methods - but from his earliest practise he adopted the side draft, and this is now almost universally used. The machine must be Operated by men who are not mechanics, and generally they are at a distance from machine shops; in case the reaper breaks down, it usually is impracticable to seek technical aid, since protracted delay may mean the loss of a considerable share of the season's harvest. Illustrations of the con¿icting conditions which it was necessary to reconcile, might be multiplied almost indefinitely. Until a plan consistent with all these exactions was devised, there could be no practical out come.

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