THE NEW SHEEP-SHEARING MACHINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 16

THE NEW SHEEP-SHEARING MACHINE.

The new sheep-shearing machine invented by Mr F. Y. Wolseley, of Euroca station, New South Wales, was tried in the presence of a large number of people in tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's store, Rattray .street, on Thursday and Friday afternoon. A good deal has been heard in New Zealand during the last few months regarding this wonderful machine; but, save in one instance (ab Galloway station), there had been no opportunity afforded of seeing it afc work. There was therefore a good deal of curiosity manifested about the trials last \reek and persons in all professions and walks of life were present to see the machine at work. The trials, it may be remarked, proved thoroughly satisfactory. Mr F. Williams (of Alexandra), who is the New Zealand agent, superintended the exhibition, and tho machines were put in the hands cf two experienced shearers (Messrs Shepherd and David Brown) who worked the machine at the Adelaide Exhibition. The exhibition lasted from 2- till 4 o'clock, and during that time a numbor of sheep were shorn in first-class style; the fleeces being closely and evenly cut, and the animals themselves uninjured. In point of time too it was evident that the machine could be made to do the work somewhat quicker than the ordinary shears. Several sheep were shorn in five and six minutes, and one was beautifully clipped in about four minutes and a-half. Both halfbreds and merinos were operated upon, and in every case the result was most satisfactory. One sheep was shorn by hand in the ordinary way, and the machine was afterwards put over it, with the result that no less than 12oz of wool was takpn off. The two machines shown in operation are both worked off one shaft, and this in tho oase of a

large shed would be extended as required, or in the case of the shearing " board " being half upon either side of the shed, the two shafts would be connected by a belt. For each machine there is an iron bracket arm which is also the bearing for ths shaft, and against which _is shouldered a wheel 2tt in diameter, on the side of which is a flat friction surface. Through a Docket in an adjustable arm upon one side of the bracket a 4in friction wheel works horizontally, the friction face of which and of the larger wheel can be placed in contact by a small lever. Thus the operator can put his machine in or out of gear at will. To the bottom spindle of the small wheel a twisted catgut core is attached by a bayonet joint. This core, or flexible shaft, is passed through a flexible protecting tube, and to an eye in the lower end of the core the shaft which runs through the hollow handle of the shear is attached. In the base of the shear there is a remarkable joint— a combination of mitre and spur wheels— which will work at any angle. Thus the shear may be doubled back against the tube and still be working all the time. The joint is also a swivel, so that the shear may be turned by the operator's wrist as the work may require. The cutting part of the machine is somewhat after the style of a horseclipping machine. Attached by two screws to the lower surface is the "comb," and upon the upper surface which the " cutter " works. This j is a knife with three points in a row, and it is ! fastened to a " fork " in the end of the machine i by two little points. The pressure of the cutter upon the comb to give the requisite clean cut to the wool is regulated by a tension screw \ working upon a "tumbler peg" between the screw aud the fork. Upon the end of the shaft in the head of the machine and some 2in behind the cutter is an excentric ball which gives the reciprocating motion to the fork. Thus the cutter runs to and fro across the comb ; and when shearing at the rate of 2000 per minute, yet so perfect is the mecnanism that the shear may be held upon the open hand without I even turning over, proving the friction to be most remarkably small. As to the advantages that are likely to be derived from the use of the machine, it is perhaps rather early to speak, 'but it may be said that at the trial on Thursday it certainly accomplished all that was claimed for it. A great caving is likely to be made in the additional weight of the clip as the result of using the machine, and the value of the wool will also be increased in consequence of the evenness of the length of the staple. The length of wool left on the sheep can be regulated by the thickness of the comb used in the machine. Then there is no danger of catting the sheep badly, as the comb intervenes between the skin and the cutter. Mr Wolseley has been a long time perfecting his machine, and has tried compressed air and various other means of conveying motion to the cutter. He seems at last to have successfully overcome all difficulties, and there appears every probability oC the invention coming into general use. fridat's exhibition. On Friday the same shearers, Shepherd and Brown, were at work, and the same highly satisfactory demonstrations were given. Although time tests were not attempted, the fleeces were removed with considerable rapidity, and the cutting was so clean and close as to astonish those spectators who had not seen < the apparatus at work the previous day. There appeared to be absolute security against any injury of consequence even to a restive animal, and to the satisfaction of those who considered the sheep too closely shaved it was explained that a comb of any thickness could be used, and any length of wool desired left upon the sheep. The precision and regularity with which this machine severs the fleece must certainly m the long run materially increase the value of the wool obtained from a given number of sheep.