RIDD MILKING MACHINE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 5

RIDD MILKING MACHINE.

THE WORLD'S LEADER. When the important subject of the mUfctag machine comes to be discussed, as it must be by every dairy farmer, the najne tihat constantly springs to memory is the Ridd, which can justly claim to be the world's leader, it is an incontestable fact that Mr Ambrose Ridd, from whom the machine under ■ review derived its name, was the founder of the milking machine, that revokrtion&ser of the dairying industry. Mr Ridd was able in 1907 to produce the first practical and successful milMng machine that the world has seen, going on with improvements In the intervening years. Mr Ridd has, in the i? 24 model, the most perfected machine on tho market. Visitors to the Waikato Winter Show have been attracted by the Ridd stand, which is situated to the immediate left as one turns from the main annexe to the motor block in the huge building. There is fitted up at the stand a complete type of cowshed, aiming at contributing the full 100 per cent in hygienic meithods, with the machine at the top end, the engine adjoining, the vacuum tank swinging in air space in the next department, and dividing the engine room from the releaser and separator department at the extremity of the shed. The whole construction aims at every phase of the shed being easily reached, as each may be required to be entered during the milking process. As to something of the machine itself. It is undeniably the simplest on the market, having two pulsators, each working independently of the other, so that the cows can be milked at any speed without alteration to the releaser or the milking of the cow. The special feature of the pulsator is the patent stop over the port Which allows the inflation to give a distinct squeeze and a distinct release. The Ridd is built specially for durability, all its rubber parts being made from the finest material. The releaser is made of specially tinned copper and the inflation cases of heavily nickled brass. In short, the Ridd is the farmer's machine, because it is built for good, hard, solid use. The system of milking cows with the Ridd is the only sanitary system, i.e., the pulsator that operates the cup is connected with a separate vacuum pipe and does not connect with the milk pipe. The air which is pulsated between the cup case and the inflation ; does not come in contact wifJh the milk, but is drawn away in a separate pipe to the vacuum tank. As a consequence there is no possibility of the milk being contaminated in any way. The Ridd,"it can be safely said, is being used extensively throughout the Waikato.

In 1915 Mr R. T. S. Mellow, of the Waikato, purchased a Ridd plant. As the result of his absolute approval of the machine nine other members of the family likewise purchased a Ridd. Is not this a family record which speaks for itself? In 1919 ,Mr F. W. Walters, of Waitoa (probably the most successful farmer in New Zealand today), installed a 6-cow Ridd plant in ♦lis No. 1 shed. To-day he has a Ridd plant in each of his seven sheds. All these plants are run by sharemilkers. In No. 1 shed the butterfat return per cow was 309,701 b. Others were 275.22, 285, 277.12, and 262.17, making a grand total for five herds of 144.6071 b butterfat. The following are further striking examples which bear out the superiority of the Ridd: (1) The Australasian champion butterfat Jersey cow Pretty Flirt, just recently sold by Mr W. H. Miers for 800 guineas, was milked for four years by a standard Ridd milking machine, and as is already widely known produced 10101 b butterfat in 365 days. (2) Mr G. Rennie, Taupiri, 90 cows, 3071 b butterfat; Ridd user for six ■vears. (3) Mr T. Luxton, Eureka, 100 cows, 3021 b butterfat; Ridd user for 15 years. (4)F. Hughes, Manawaru, 120 cows, 3001 b butterfat; Ridd user for three years. (S)G. W. Home, junr., Te Aroha, 59 cows, 3431 b butterfat; Ridd user for three years. (6) H W. Blackford, Warhou, 45 cows, 350 Lb butterfat; Ridd user for five years. Many other instances could be quoted if space permitted. With the assistance of the Ridd it is notable to record that Ridd users in the Waikato benefit to 'the extent of £354,750 annually. There are 1260 Ridd machines in daily use in the Waikato, and the machine may be seen in operation on any day at the Ruakura Experimental Farm. Any farmer who is contemplating building a shed, irrespective of the make of machine he is installing, should not fail to inspect the Ridd shed at the Show stand. Another important adjunct to the high grade working of the Ridd machine is the Ridd Zenith teat cup. This is made in two -sizes, and its numerous users to-day testify to its undoubted efficiency. The Ridd firm also supply the noted standard cups which have stood the test of years. •