REID AND GRAY'S HARVESTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 4

REID AND GRAY'S HARVESTER.

The second trial of Messrs Reid and Gray's .Reaper and Binder (says Wednesday's North Otago Times) came off yesterday afternoon at the same place as on Saturday, and was in all respects perfectly successful. The plate mentioned in tho last report, as cutting the wire, and proventing the progress of the machine, has been removed, and a new one substituted, and the machine, as we said it would, performed its task in a style equal, if not superior, to any of the American machines which were at work in this district last season. We do not see why Messrs Keid and Gray's machine should not work better than any other yet exhibited here, as it is a combination of the principal makers' bestfeatures, they having adopted, in the construction of their machine, the Wood binder, the M'Cormick c ' elevator," and the Osborne " reel," together with several improvements effected by themselves, notable among which are, the wire spool being placed horizontally, as handier to replace when empty than in the other machines. The machinery for raising and lowering the height of the reaper is placed behind, is easily reached, and is raised by the application of a key with scarcely any trouble. The elevator is so constructed that it carries all the grain and straw into the binder, without letting any fall into the machinery not intended for it. The throw of the sheaf can be regulated as the driver likes, at from three to six feet. The Wood machine throws it the latter distance. Practical men say it is an advantage to be able to regulate the distance, as, with over-ripe grain, much .is apt to be lost through it being thrown too far. The draught of the machine seems to be very light, as two medium-sized express horses were able to draw it during the afternoon without showing any signs of distress, and that, in a heavy crop, speaks volumes for the lightness of its draught. It is a pity that the makers had not a dynamometer on the ground, as we are almost certain that a test of its draught would have resulted greatly in its favour as compared with other machines. Taken altogether, our local firm is to be complimented on turning out a machine which, we believe, will give a good account of itself at tho trial which is to take place shortly under the auspices of theN. U. A. and P. Association.