Whitaker's Mowing Machines - Picksley & Sims

Page 416                                                       The Engineer                                                            Dec. 9th 1859

WHITAKER'S MOWING MACHINES.

PATENT DATED 18TH APRIL, 1859.

Is this invention, by John Whitaker, of Bedford Mill Ironworks, near Leigh, the bearings or castors of the guide-wheels are movable instead of stationary, so that they may be widened or contracted, according to the kind of mowing required. The bearings or castors are placed upon the front rail of the machine, and held fast by set- screws, nuts, or wedges.

Fig. 1. - Side Profile of Mower showing gearing and castors.

Fig. 2.  - Close up of castors.

Fig. 1 represents a part of a mowing machine, having the im- proved movable bearings or castors, and Fig. 2 a detached view of the guide-wheels, castors, and rail. The castors for the guide-wheels are composed of two parts, a and b, linked or jointed together by the pin e, the lower part a holding the pin d for the wheels, and the upper part & fitting the rail e, so that it may be adjusted as required, and held fast by the set-screw f. It will be seen that the lower part a is brought straight from the pin d to the front of the wheel, and that it can be connected to an upper part of various shapes. The aforesaid movable bearings or castors may be applied to a rail placed behind the cutters as well as in front.