Nicholson and Gray's Milking Machine.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2420, 6 May 1893, Page 2

Nicholson and Gray's Milking Machine.

- Some time ago in conversation with Mr R. Lambie, of Pihama, a representative of the Stab learned that that gentleman had seen at work in Canterbury a milking machine wbioh he considered a success, and in view ot tbe great interest taken in this subject we thought a description would be of interest to our readers. Through tbe good offices of Mr. jambie we have been supplied by Mr John Cnnningbam, of Westburn Farm, Leeßton, Canterbury, with tbe following description, whioh we have no doubt will be read with interest : — This machine is the joint production of Mr Stewart Nicholson, Bombie, Kirkcudbright, and Mr John Gray, dairy implement maker at Stracraer, Wigtonshire. Tbe idea was conceived by Mr Nicholson and worked out in conjunction with Mr John Gray. The machine is very eimple, having few working parts, all of which are easily accessible both in working and cleaning. First of all, there is an air pump, which generates the Buotion force. A pipe ie laid from the pump along the ground in front of the bails, and is connected to a " vacuum can " at its further extremity. This vacuum can is a large, empty, enclosed can, or small tank, and is to .the milking machine what the boiler is to the steam engine ; it holds a supply of '• vacuum," or, in other Words, milking force. A number of upright pipes, each about 3ft in height, each having a tap on top, are fitted at intervals to the ground pipe, there being one vertioal pipe for every bail or cow. A piece of india-rubber tubing is slipped on to this tap, and the other end is fixed to an enolosed bucket. This bucket has an opening on top of about 4in diameter, which, opening when milking, is covered with an india-rubber pad, loosely laid on in the first place, but kept quite tight by external pressure, when tbe vacuum is turned on. This pad is oonnected by a simple Bwitch to a piece of indiarubber tubing about 3ft long, which terminates at its other extremity, into foar branches, each branoh being joined by a short tube about 4in long to a seotion of a cows horn, tipped with a ring of india-rubber. Tbttt four horns are placed on the cow'a teatß,' and adhere very closely, owing to the' suction generated by the pump. In fact the homo would stick on if there were no teats at all. Thus the suction is generated by the pump, stored up in the vaouum can, condnoted. to the bucket, and from thence to the teats by means of tbe milking cups or. horns. As nature always abhors a vacuum the milk flows out into the bucket in obedience to natural law. The bucket has a thiok strong strip of glass affixed to one side, with graduations in quarts and gallons, so that one can see at a glance how much each cowgive6, or if they are milking at all. The vaouum can is fitted with a safety valve and a vaouum gauge, so that tbe vacuum cannot be raised too high to the injury of the oowb. The vacuum can is placed at the further end of the ground pipe, so that every Btroke of the pump is felt by the cows before it reaches the can. By this arrangement the aotion of a calf ib more nearly reproduced. The machine is easily washed, eaoh set of horns in turn is placed in a pail of cold water, and the vacuum being turned on, the water flows through with great force. They should, however, be thoroughly oleaned out with a tube brush at least onoe a week. The maohines can be made to milk any number of cows at a time, from one upwards; perhaps ten or twelve would be most convenient for a large dairy. A machine of this size would require some power to drive the pump, such aB a horse, etc, and perhaps 3 persons to manage the cows. This would be seven each to look after, and would not be hard work by any means, though some smartness will be required. One person may be able to look after 5 oows at a time. Small machines of seven cows or less at a time can easily be worked by band. Each individual oo w is not milked as quickly as by hand, but the whole machine is quicker in the long run. The oows don't object to it in the slightest and will stand chewing their cud. It is advisable, I think, to start it on newly-calved cows, but I started mine on cows in milk some time, and they soon got used to it. The oows usually give their milk freely enough, but some, especially heifers, don't milk quite so free. If, however, the milking cups be taken off for a minute or two and then put on again they usually give all the rest. I have had mine in work since the beginning of last November, with, as far as I can see, no detrimental effects on tbe oows, and I have no intention of changing it for tbe old system of hand milking. The machine has one great advantage in that the milk is kept very clean ; as ail the pails must necessarily be enolosed and air-tight it is impossible to for any dirt to get in. Although tbe machine will, no doubt, be further improved, yet I think it can honestly be called successful.