Obed Hussey | Page 4

'55 he published "A Brief Narrative of the
Invention of Reaping Machines," "Hussey's Reaping Machine in
England," and "A Review of the Pamphlet of W. N. P. Fitzgerald in
Opposition to the Extension of the Patent of Obed Hussey; and also of
the Defense, of Evidence in Favor of Said Extention," etc. There is
sufficient data obtainable from Mr. Stabler's various publications and
material in the Congressional Library to enable one to judge for himself
whether the honors placed upon this inventor by the Patent Office, the
Courts, by Congress, and by the farmer were earned.
It was at the time Mr. Hussey was residing in Baltimore that he turned
his attention to the idea of a reaping machine and spent his leisure
hours in working out his model. This satisfied him that the thing was
practical, and he undertook an operating machine, which, although
lightly made, was fully sufficient to test the great principle. At this time
he had no knowledge whether any others had undertaken anything in
this direction and there was nothing in his own mechanical occupation
which would make him familiar with the subject.

[Sidenote: McCormick Claims Invention]
As the only other claimant for the honor of inventing the reaper was
Cyrus H. McCormick, reference is here made to a book entitled
"Memorial of Robert McCormick," the father of Cyrus H. McCormick,
Leander J. McCormick and William S. McCormick, published by the
said Leander J. McCormick in 1885, pages 44 to the bottom of page 51,
also pages 58 to 61 inclusive, from which I extract:
[Sidenote: Denial by Members of McCormick Family]
"Now, while we have no disposition to question the merits of the
so-called McCormick harvester and binder, which, without doubt, is a
good machine,--though the judgment of foreigners as to its value is of
no consequence,--we do assert that C. H. McCormick was not entitled
to any of the honors showered upon him as its inventor. To be more
explicit, he not only did not invent the said machine, nor mechanically
assist in the combinations of the inventions of others which produced it,
but he never invented or produced any essential elementary part in any
reaping or harvesting machine from the first to last. These assertions
are broad, but absolutely true. They stand squarely upon the records
and the history and state of the art. C. H. McCormick, or any one for
him, cannot deny them with proofs, therefore he is not entitled to
recognition as the man who 'has done more to elevate agriculture than
any man the world has produced,' because of his supposed inventions in
this line; but on the contrary, that the development of Western
agriculture has elevated him, and that he has more money, and received
more honors, 'than any man the world has produced,' by appropriating
the brains of others, and the credit due them as inventors, are
propositions much more defensible."
[Sidenote: Their Affirmation of Hussey's Claim]
"But the man who is entitled to the most credit, as inventor and pioneer
in this business, is Obed Hussey, who, December 31st, 1833, patented
the machine (successfully operated in previous harvest, well known and
in use since to this day), which combined all the main features--except
the reel, which was then an old device--of practical reapers down to the

time, at least, when 'harvesters,' so-called, came into the field."
[Illustration: (From An Old Print)]
[Sidenote: The First Machine]
The following is also copied from "Memorial of Robert McCormick,"
published by Leander J. McCormick in 1885:
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
"REMONSTRANCE"
"Of the Citizens of New York against the renewal of Letters Patent
granted to Cyrus H. McCormick, June 21, 1834, for improvements in
the Reaping Machine.
"Among the early reaper inventors of this country, Mr. Obed Hussey,
now of Baltimore, stood for many years deservedly the most prominent,
and he has doubtless by his genius and indefatigable exertions
(although in a modest way) contributed more to the advancement of
this invention than any other man. He first tested his machine in 1833,
and took out a patent for it the 31st of December of that year.
"He first constructed his machine with a reel to gather the grain up to
the cutters, and throw it upon the platform; but on trial, with his cutter,
he thought it unnecessary and only an incumbrance, and, therefore,
threw it aside and has never used it since. The main frame-work
containing the gearing was suspended on two wheels about three feet
four inches in diameter. The platform was attached to the rear of this
frame, and extended out one side of it say six feet. The team was
attached to the front end of the frame and traveled at the side of the
standing grain as in Randall's machine. The cutting