Roxburgh and Crawford's Self-feeder and Cutter.

Otago Witness, Issue 1601, 29 July 1882, Page 7

Roxburgh and Crawford's Self-feeder and Cutter.

Mr Roxburgh, of Ngapara, has finished the season with his threshing-mill, with the result that the patent band-cutter and self-feeder— the joint invention of Messrs Roxburgh and Crawford— has proved an entire success. Much credit is due to those gentlemen for their ingenuity, as most of the machine was constructed on the farm. Over 1800 acres of crop has passed through it, 500 of which was wirebound, without causing the slightest derangement in the machinery, besides doing the work as expeditiously as it could be performed by hand, and feeding the mill with greater regularity. Scarcely a year passes but some unfortunate loses his life or gets maimed by the drum of a threshing-mill. By this invention accidents are avoided, as the drum is entirely closed in. The band-cutter consists of two reaper knives 4 feet 6 inches long — one stationary, the other moveable. On each side of the knives are square rollers, with spikes projecting. When a sheaf is thrown on to the knives, the band is cut instantly ; at the same time the rollers, going at a good speed, push the straw on to the canvas below, which is running towards the drum ; but, previous to entering, if too great a quantity comes at once, it is intercepted and thrown back on the canvas by agitator forks, and comes up again in due time. In fact, as fast as one man can fork the sheaves on to the knives the machinery will take them away. The great beauty of the whole machine is its simplicity and lightness of construction ; arid as it dispenses with the services of two trained men, the cost is saved in one season. Farmers and millowners who have seen it at work are greatly, pleased with it. , Messrs Roxburgh and Crawford have received numerous inquiries after their machines, and we have no doubt that as they become known few mills will be without them. We understand the invention is protected by letters patent not only in the Australian Colonies, but also in Great Britain and America.