Mower

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

in haymaking, a machine for cutting grass. The mower differs from a reaper in allowing the grass to fall without gathering. The present day side-cut mowing machine is the modern farmer's chariot. The ancient war-chariot, we are told, carried projecting blades that cut a swath through the ranks of the enemy, while the modern machine carries a cutter bar and set of knives that lay low a swath of grass. The cutter bar may be hinged to the frame in front of the wheels or behind the wheels. The front position brings the work under the driver's eye. The bar slides along the ground resting in a shoe or runner at each end. The inner shoe is hinged to the frame so that the bar follows the slope of the ground quite independent of the wheels. One lever enables the operator to tilt the cutting edge of the bar up or down according to the smoothness of the ground and the length of stubble desired. Another lever enables the operator to raise the bar from the ground or to throw it up into a vertical position in order to pass by a stone or stump. As the bar assumes a vertical position, the pitman ceases to play. When the bar falls, the pitman resumes its strokes. The construction of a mower is surprisingly simple, but a description of the mechanism is useless to one familiar with the machine and is unintelligible to one not familiar. The development of the mower from the old sickle and time-honored scythe is really a part of the development of the reaper. The essential part of the invention, after all, is the play of the knives through steel guards affixed to the cutter bar. The guards thrust themselves into the standing grass. As the knives play to and fro through the guards, the stalks are caught between knife edge and guard and are cut faster than the operation can be described. Experience has settled upon about twenty-two strokes of the pitman per yard of advance. One of the earlier devices designed to cut grass consisted essentially of a whirling circular blade that hung flat, that is to say, horizontal beneath the frame. It operated like a circular saw, presenting a flat surface to the ground. The width of the swath equaled the diameter of the blade. The edge played against a whetstone to keep it sharp. The inventor, a Mr. Jeremiah Bailey of Chester County, Pennsylvania, had faith that he had hit upon a wonderful labor-saving invention. "It has been extensively used," said he, "and appeared during the last season. It is understood that it will mow ten acres per day." See Reaper