An Ingenious Root Slicer.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 June 1906, Page 213

An Ingenious Root Slicer.

Many farmers who feed root crops to their sheep and cattle find it most economical to dig the roots and slice them. For this purpose Mr. James Walker, of Killinchy, Canterbury, has invented a most ingenious contrivance which is shown in the accompanying illustrations. The turnips, or other crops to be sliced, are raised from the ground and thrown into a dray, upon the end of which is a drum contained within a

hopper having a number of cutting knives, the drum being revolved by chain gearing from a sprocket upon the wheel of the dray. The roots are fed to the drum, so that when the latter is revolved by the forward movement of the dray, they are cut into slices and fall upon the ground. The thickness of the slices may be regulated by adjusting the angle of the cutting knives, and also by regulating the distance between a feed plate and the cutters. The drum may if desired, be placed beneath the dray, as shown in our second illustration, in which case an opening in the floor of the vehicle permits the feeding of the roots to the cutters. The drum in this case is driven by spur gearing directly from the wheel of the vehicle.

In case it should be desired to cut the roots when the dray is stationary, a wheel of the dray to which the chain-driving wheel is affixed is raised from the ground and the dray wheel turned by means of a handle which can be readilyjixed to one of the spokes. :

We announce in the advertising columns of this issue the advent of a new firm of civil engineers and surveyors, viz. : Richmond & Newton. Mr. R. R. Richmond was for many years a partner with Mr. A. P. Mason, and now joins with Mr. Wells Newton who for the past three years has been engineer to the Hutt County Council, and who will retain his position with that body. The business will be carried on under the name of Richmond & Newton, and the offices of the firm aro, Harcourt's Buildings, Lambton quay, Wellington. ****** Messrs. Anderson & Co , Ltd., Lighting Engineers, London, have two announcements m this issue dealing with the Scott Snell High Pressure Lamp, and the Anti vibration Incandescent Gas Burner. The Scott Snell lamp has been scientifically tested in London, Paris, Berlin, New York Chicago, St. Louis, Boston and various foreign towns. It is especially applicable to street lighting, halls, shops, railway stations etc. The Anti-vibration Incandescent Gas Burner is claimed to be the cheapest and most scientifically designed anti-

vibration burner, and is said to prolong the life of mantles from 18 to 60 times their present durability ; and moreovei they are British made. ****** Hardley & Hardley Ltd. have been registered under the Companies Act with a nominal capital of in 100 shares of /50 each. The company will take over as a going concern the business of plumbers, metal workers, and hardware merchants of Hardley Bros., and will carry on in Zew Zealand and elsewhere the business of steam and other engine manufacturers, ironfounders, metal workers, plumbers, electrical engineers, etc. The first subscribers are • — John Hardley, J. W. Hardley, Samuel Hardley, jun., Geo. Thos. Hardley, Walter F. Hardley, Charles E. Hardley, and Harry Sims Hardley, five shares each. Registered office, Albert street, Auckland.