Obed Hussey | Page 7

which
were embraced in his first machine in 1832 and 1833, included all the
principles of a practical reaper. It was a side draft or side cut machine;
that is, the cutting apparatus extended out to one side, the animals
drawing the machine moving along by the side of the grain or grass to
be cut. It had two driving and supporting wheels, gearing extending
rearward with a crank and pitman therefrom to reciprocate the cutters,
which were scalloped or projecting blades from a bar and vibrated

through slotted guard fingers which held the stalks to be cut. The
cutting apparatus was hinged to the side of the frame of the machine to
enable it to follow the surface of the ground over which the machine
was passing. A platform was supported by an outer and inner wheel.
The operator was seated upon the machine and raked the grain into
sheaves from the platform as it was cut. Over sixty years have come
and gone, yet all the essential features of the first Hussey machine and
all Hussey machines made thereafter (which were large numbers)
employed substantially these devices. The machine was successful the
first time it was completed, and ever after were the Hussey machines
successful in harvesting grain and grass. The fundamental principles of
all harvesting machinery of the world to-day were furnished by Obed
Hussey's invention and patent of 1833; and while very many and
valuable improvements have been made thereon for harvesting grain
and grass, for which credit should be given to the worthy inventors who
followed after Hussey, yet we must not ignore his valuable contribution,
'the reaper.'
"Cyrus H. McCormick's first patent was dated in 1834. This was known
as a push machine with a straight cutter, the operator walking by the
side of the machine and raking the grain from the platform. Other
modifications in after years were made on this machine by Mr.
McCormick; and it may be said that the inventive genius of Obed
Hussey and the business tact and skill of C. H. McCormick produced
and brought into practical use the first successful reaping machine of
this or any other country.
[Sidenote: Whose Machine Still Lives?]
"Whatever might have been embodied in the first McCormick machine
or in his experiments or machines for the first fifteen years of his
efforts, the reaper of the present day does not disclose any principles
contained in these early efforts of C. H. McCormick; but that cannot be
said of Hussey. All reaping machines of the present day embody
substantially all of the vital principles given by Obed Hussey in 1833
and at different periods thereafter. The Patent Office, as well as other
sources of information, make good these statements.

"Passing, however, from the early history up to the present time, when
the present mowing machines and grain binding machines are seen in
operation, and taking into account the thousands of patents that have
been issued to American inventors for various features that they have
brought out, it would be but simple justice that all be recognized as
contributors to the building up of such valuable and important pieces of
machinery; and I cannot but repeat that it would be very unjust, unfair
and un-American to single out one person, and that one Mr.
McCormick, as a representative to be used by the government printing
bureau, when it is so well known what he did and what he did not do in
the invention of the reaper. It would be a false monument; it would
only be respected by persons who are ignorant of the facts.
"If this should succeed, it would not be the first time, as likely it will
not be the last time, in the history of mankind where those who did the
work were soon forgotten and those who were more fortunate in being
held up and prominently kept before the public by their friends or
powerful allies received unjustly the credit."
[Sidenote: Early Ventures in Manufacture]
[Sidenote: An Unfortunate Delay]
It will be seen from the foregoing extracts that Mr. Hussey's machines
went early into the field in such quantities as he and other little
manufacturers throughout the country, some of whom ignored the
exclusive rights granted him, could put them out. They were simple,
and a few castings were all that was necessary, except lumber, which
was plenty in the forests of the East and in the groves of the West, to
enable a country wagon maker and blacksmith to put machines into the
field. Many of the earlier inventors, who began the manufacture of
reapers of their own invention, followed that course and castings were
sometimes brought from great distances. Mr. Hussey applied for an
extension of his 1833 patent, but, not knowing the exact requirements,
his application was