VOL. XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, MAY 15,1886
NO. 20
AultmaD, Miller & Oo , Akron, Ohio.
Editorial correspondence of the   .■'arm   Implement
■ewa.
The writer had occasion to visit the beautiful city
of Akron. Ohio, a short time ago, aud availing himself of the opportunity offered, leisurely strolled
through the various departments of the extensive
"Buckeye" works of Aultmau, Miller & Co., and of
course inspected their harvesting machines and
methods of constructing same with tbat sort of interest which one feels ina business that he has long
pursued and linally dropped.
This is an incorporated company, Geo. W. Crouse
being its president and Lewis Miller superintendent
aud general manager. Mr. Aullman, whose name
stands first, i although he never had an active part
in the management of tbe business and sold his entire interest some 15 nr 16 years ago i. died something
over a year ago, while Mr. Miller, though one of tbe
earliest of the verv few practical inventors and pioneers in this line of business now living is apparently
as vigorous as ever, and still gives close attention to
the details of manufacture and general management, which may in part account for that peculiarly
conservative and continuously uniform thoroughness of construction for which the Buckeye machines have been distinguished. As an instance,
their mower had twenty or thirty years ago the same
principles of main gear, projecting shaft aud rear
gear, pawls and ratchets for drive wheels as are used
to day, except that all have been covered— improved
and beautified while progressing to the perfection
attained; so that a man familiar with the Buckeye
mower a quarter of a century ago wonld recognize It
at a glance now.
In passing into the works my eye was caught by
the elegant appearance and fine finish of some mowers which were ready for shipment, so I naturally
turned my attention tothe methods of their construction. One is first impressed Dy the evidently
extreme care taken to bring outa thoroughly perfect
machine in all Its part1!. Nothing Is slighted; every
thing, Trom tbe smallest and apparently most insignificant to the largest and most important piece, is
equally well made and receives the same clone inspection while in process of construction. Parts
are tested separately, and finally the completed machine is run for a time at a high speed, so that if
there be any possible defect or roughness to notice it
can be corrected before sending ont. All this care ls
taken oecanse ot their knowledge that machines—
although in general well made, with main features
perfectly constructed—may give serious trouble and
be ruined perhaps because of defect or weakness in
some miner i*art; but snch extreme care, while it Insures perfection in a machine and benefits the purchaser beyond his comprehension, adds largely to the
cost of manufacture also, which latter the purchaser
seldom considers.
It is strange tbat a farmer, who will so carefully
inspect all tlie fine points and motions of a horse .ami
will not hesitate to pay a considerable sum extra to
obtain his choice from among others—appearing, except on close Inspection, quite as good—should in
purchasing a machine pay so little attention to Its
merits In detail; but, on the contrary, should confine himself to haggling over price only.
The Buckeye Mower Is too well known to require
any special description. I noticed its sliding hammer strap on tougue, with link rod draft connection,
by which machine Is drawn directly from the bar instead of from the frame; also the pitman, with adjustment device at each end—one to take up lust
motion or wear in the knife head, and theother, being an adjustable box in crank-wheel, to take up
wear there—thus making the pitman durable and
perfect In action ns adjusted so long as tbe machine
lasts. I was interested in the method of boring the
holes for bearings in the large cast main-frame.
These are all bored simultaneously and in such manner as to make them absolutely exact in relation to
each other. With its strong, well-braced and well-
fitted mainframe, attache 1 to the main axle connecting its widely .pread wheels, and with the draft
directly from bar also, this mower has a steadiness
and power in motion unsurpassed by any other; and
its construction throughout will bear the closest inspection.
My attention was next drawn to the little Rwkeye
_tmywn-Binder, or "low-level," as the English call it.
This has always been the neatest looking thing in
the market, and is so attractive in appearance and
principle, that the demand for it waa strong even
when tt was not sufil»iently perfect to meet all the
requirements; but tt has beeu steadily improved and
perfected from year lo year until now It is a successful competitor with elevator machines on their own
gronnd; while on small or hilly farms lt is claimed
to be superior, on account of being so much more
convenient toget around with, and because tt hogs
aslde-hlllso much better. The binder on this machine is theaameas that on theother; it haa every
convenience for adjustment, and the sam<> care and
attention la given to  the perfection of  Its operating
parts.   Nothing is neglected here.
The Buckeye Harvester-Binders are very compact,
symmetrical and well balanced machines. The
height of the harvester has been cut down consider
ably,and without reducing the size of the drive-wheel,
which retains its original diameter. Tbis is accomplished by bracketing in a peculiar manner from the
A frame out to the gas pipe cross-bar of the binder.
either is good enough.
The bar and guards are particularly well shaped
and constructed for cutting down and difficult grain,
and the platform boards are protected by the projecting lip of the bar, on the upper side of which
their ends are riveted-rivets passing through this
lip, tlie boards and a light bar or iron above—making
a smooth and very strong connection In front; and
there is also a diagonal  brace across the bottom on
BUCKEYE  FOLDING  BINDER.
BUCKEYE  BINDER.
BUCKEYE DOWN BINDER, WITH BUNDLE CARRIER.
Their tendency seems to be toward a drive-wheel
having cast spokes and a wooden rim, with inclined
steps on tlie rim liy which the spokes are attached
and adjusted thereto, exactly* as required. Tliis
wheel looks to me better and more simple than their
"suspension" wheel with wrought spokes, which
other manufacturers  are now generally using;  but
nnder side, to which each board \% riveted.
Reel Is run by a worm gear, at head of elevator
operating a jointed telescopic shaft attached to reel
shaft; aud the devices for adjustment give complete
control over it. The main-franle is strengthened by
a truss brace, and the main gear Is provided with a
malleable link by which pinion and spur wheel are
held firmly as placed, allowing the cogs to mash
properly and with a free movement on the start,
aud preventing them from being crowded ont or
oil" under heavy strain. Tho canvases are notice-
ablystrong and well mad.-, having all their straps
connected and rlv-ited each to two slats, which latter are all firmly attached tothe canvases; and
their driving rollers or drums have shads running
through their ceuters the entire length, and turned
at each end, In place of the usual short pins driven
In the ends of the rollers—to work loose under
labor as they generally do. The butter gears are
large and strong.
In fine, the harvester is first-class in every partio-
ular, indicating the great amount of care aud work
which has been bestowed upon it.
But Tew If any changes have been made in the
operating parts or their binders; the knotting devices are substantially as heretofore built, the conservative disposition of the proprietors Inclining
tin-in not to abandon practical devices, well known
and established, in favor of anything new having
only tlie merit of cheapness to recommend it. But
they have adecidedly new feature In their
FOLDING BINDER.
This hinder Is now arranged, for convenience of
nm\ing, passing through gates, or for storage, so
that it can be folded over upon the head of the elevator. Tliis is a very Metal improvement, as any one
can see; and it is accomplished in sucli a simple,
easy manner that ones tirst thought is. Why was lt
not done long ago? It doesn't Deed describing; the
binder just rolls over on Its gas-pipe cross-bar, aud
gets right out of the way.   (8ee Illustration).
All their binding machines are tried aud operated
with straw before sending out; and, furthermore, all
their twine is carefully examined and tested before
shipment to agents, thus doubly insuring against
possible mistakes or defects.
The extra department Is extensive and under a
rigidly exact system. Everything has i s place aud
number, and no confu.slon or mistake need occur lu
ordering if only the order be intelligible. A glance
at tne books will disclose what au agent has in stock
of any style or year, and what he may require or
Bhould order. The perfect operation of this dejwtrtment
is a mat'er of vital importance both to d*aler and
farmer.
The thoroughness of the work is only equaled by
theingeuntty of the tools, machines aud devices by
which such work Is accomplished; and everything
possible seems to have been done also by tho management for the comfort of the! r men, who appeared
to be as happy ami contented a lot as ever I passed
among. The foundry is a very well appointed department, Its notable feature being an elevated
tramway for carrying tn suspension the "ladles" or
blgbucketsof netted iron, from which the latter ls
distributed ull along the line. Besides belug easy
for the workmen, tt reduces the chances for accidents, as the men do not mass before the cupola, nor
indeed anywhere upon the floor. The operation was
perfect, and uo large foundry Is complete, without
lt.
It is clearly evident that thii concern Is determined to keep up its well earned reputation, and
that low prices and close competition bave not
driven its managers Into cheap manufacture. In
fact, they seem to be taking all the more care, and
adding to shop expense on account of It. Their motto seems to be tbat "the best is always tlie cheapest," no matter how prices range. And in talking
with tliem I find that they are earnestly determined,
first, to keep their machines up to the highest standard, and, second, to obtain a fairly remunerative
price or not sell. They hold that no manufacturer
who expects to continue In the trade can afford to
put out cheap, poorly made implements; neither
can any one keep up if lie sells at a loss; but, on the
other hand, that well-made goods need not be prostituted to the low prices taken for the inferior, and
that in the .-ml the dtflerence between a good or a
poor article will Barely assert Itself. They think
that agents should as a matter of self-preservation
use the utmost care to select only the best for their
trade, and should earnestly endeavor to impress
upon the farmer the necessity for the same sort of
care on his part In the choice of implements—such,
for Instance, as he would exercise In selecting aud
buying a horse; and that dealing only in well made
implements, and firmlv keeping prices consistent
with quality, they can soon educate farmers np to
that standard, and thus avoid the cutting so much
complained of; and in the end drive poor goods and
reckless agents out of the trade; finally, that manufacturers of standard articles should act in accordance with these considerations, and should assist
their agents tn such efforts.
The philosophy of Aultmau, Miller & Co. in this
regard is the philosophy of salvation—to the implement manufacturer, and to the dealer also. Let the
latter particularly be guided thereby,