A WONDERFUL INVENTION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4307, 16 March 1901, Page 3

A WONDERFUL INVENTION

Til E 11 AND-SU FARING MACHINE.

A BOON TO THE SMALL SHEEPFARMER.

Before a number of interested people —sheepfannors,mcc-hine-K-hcarin;' experts and others—an exhibition was given in Wellington yesterday of the “Maori” hand sheep-shearing machine. The result of the - test was a revelation to those who- witnessed it. The machine, weighing but 41b, and resembling some, what the business end of the powerdriven machines, is practically automatic. By merely ' holding the implement in a downward position it shears equally as well as the power machine. A simple mechanism is enclosed in the handle, and is connected by a cord to a fixture in a. wall or post. When not in use, the end of the cord—held by a spring around a roller inside the handle'—just projects, and immediately the implement is he hi down irs own weight hanging on the cord unwinds the latter, and sets the simple mechanism in motion,,the top row of the cutting teeth vibrating over the bottom row at a remarkable rale. .When the' implement is carried out to the full length of the cord the spring rolls the latter up again, ready for another .sweep, and thus the simple movement goes mi. The implement, so it is claimed, can shear quite as rapidly as the powerdriven machines, and it will clip th« wool as short as desired. The “'.Maori ” hand machine will come as a great boon to the small sheepf armor, for instead of having to wait to got his sheep shorn, by experienced men. ho can now—provided with this automatic clipper, and having some knowledge of holding a sheep—simply drive a stake in the field, and proceed to do the work himself.

The machine was exhibited by the patentee, and it is understood that the patent rights have been purchased by a Wellington gentleman.