Obed Hussey, Who, of All Inventors, Made Bread Cheap
History
Obed Hussey, Who, of All Inventors, Made Bread Cheap
Harvesting machinery; Hussey, Obed, 1792-1860
The _same_ machine was directly afterwards exhibited before the Hamilton
County Agricultural Society near Carthage, on the 2nd of July, 1833. Of
its operation and success, the following statements, and certificates,
now in our possession, sufficiently testify. Doctor Wallace as well as
some others of the gentlemen, are living witnesses of what is here
stated.
[Sidenote: Wallace Testimonial]
Cincinnati, November 20th, 1833.
This may certify that I was present on the 2nd day of July near
Carthage, in this county, at an experimental trial with a machine
invented by Mr. Obed Hussey for cutting grain. The operation was
performed on a field of wheat. The machine was found to cut the
wheat clean, and with great rapidity. But owing to its having been
imperfectly made, being only constructed for the experiment, some
parts of _wood_ which should have been made of iron, and in
consequence frequently getting some parts out of order, a correct
estimate of the quantity of work it would perform in a given time
could not be made. One point was, however, satisfactorily
established, that the principle upon which the machine is
constructed will operate; and when well built will be an important
improvement, and greatly facilitate the harvesting of grain. I
would also remark that the horses moving the machine were walked,
and trotted, and it was found to cut best with the greatest
velocity.
C. D. WALLACE,
Secretary of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society.
[Sidenote: Exceeded Expectations]
We, the undersigned, witnessed the exhibition of Mr. O. Hussey's
Machine for cutting grain alluded to by Dr. Wallace, and do fully
concur with his statement of its performance. We would further add,
that notwithstanding its temporary construction, its performance far
exceeded our expectations. Cutting the grain clean and rapidly, and
leaving it in good order for binding. We are of the opinion that the
machine is capable of being propelled at the rate of five miles the
hour, and do good work. The machine was worked when the cutters were
both in a sharp and a dull condition, and no difference could be
perceived in its execution.
(Signed) "G. A. MAYHEW,
T. R. SEBRING,
A. CASTNER,
JACOB WHITE,
H. B. COFFIN,
C. F. COFFIN,
S. W. FOLGER,
T. B. COFFIN,
WM. PADDOCK."
There are several other certificates equally conclusive and satisfactory;
but we will only copy in addition to the foregoing, a short piece from
the _Farmer and Mechanic_, issued July 3d, 1833, in Cincinnati, as
follows:
"Several members of the Agricultural Society on last Wednesday attended
in Carthage to see a machine for cutting wheat by horse power, in
operation. It was propelled by two horses, and cut as fast as eight
persons could conveniently bind, doing the cutting neatly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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