MODERN INVENTIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15041, 8 July 1909, Page 5

MODERN INVENTIONS.

AX INTERESTING APPLIANCE

A NOTABLE WEIGHING MACHINE

Tho Springston farmers who visited tho Islington Freezing Works last week were more interested in tho weighing machine in use there than in anything else they saw in the day's tour. They clustered in scores in front of the machine while the general manager, Mr W. Murray, explained to them the way in which it worked; and they subjected it to a very keen inspection. The weights shown on a freezing works' killing sheet are naturally a matter of anxious interest and comment to tho farmer whose sheep they refer to. Many of those who saw the weighing machine at work at Islington last week candidly admitted their conviction that the machine could not lie, notably Mr Tesehemaker. one of tho directors of the Christchurch Meat Company, and a well-known farmer in South Canterbury, and Mr M. F. Ryan, a prominent member of the Farmers' Union.

Some particulars of this interesting machine were supplied to a reporter yesterday by Mr G. Hutchinson, mechanical designer and manufacturer, of Worcester Street. Ho said that it had been brought into existence by the ontorp: ise of the Christchurch Meat Company, and that, comparatively recently, he had been employed upon it, and had brought it to its present state of perfection. The chief one of his improvements is. fortunately applicable not onlv to these special carcase scales, but. also to scales for all purposes. Spring scales with automatic indication, that is to say, with dial and pointer, are everyday things; but the limitations of springs as regards accuracy and permanency are well known, and it has always been the aim. of makers to produce a type of scales dependent on levers, not springs, tor their working, but which yet have dial and pointer, instead of the time-con-suming sliding poise that is seen on an everyday platform scale, for instance, and which are accurate and simple of adjustment. Such a typo Mr Hutchinson claims to have discovered. He showed the reporter automatic scales dealing with hundreds of pounds, and yet so delicate that they moved on the addition of a one-ounce weight. ffe showed also scales with an air steadyins attachment not seen on. tho scales at Islington, whereby the pointer was caused to settle almost instantaneousMr Hutchinson is making machines for freezing works and abattoirs, and, in a slightly modified form, for jockey eluks, and has just begun Lo sell attachments for existing platform scales to give then- the advantage of quick reading A special counter-scale, for small goods i.- promised in the near future. His patent rights are under offer to one of the. biggest scale-makers in the world for a substantial sum, but in the meantime he is manufacturing the machines at his small factory, 132 a, Worcester Street, Christechurch, where lie will be pleased to show them to anybody who is interested in mechanical devices of this nature. A visit to his factory reveals also other things besides scales," being made, notably rape and turnip sowers of his own .invention, which he supplies to.leading implement firms. His work adds several useful articles to the varied list of things which are manufactured in this city, and speaks, too. for the inventive faculty for which New Zealand is becoming justly famous. 1228