Hardenbergh's Improved Potato Digger

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The subject of the accompanying engraving will prove a very valuable labor-saving machine, from the great quantity of potatoes it will dig, in comparison with the number jaised by th same amount of hand labor. The operatfoirof-ttujnacnine will be understood from the following description, eference being had to the illustration. A is a strong ' frame which is drawn by the shaft B, and is supported on the wheels C. Inside of one of these wheels is a geared wheel, D, and on the axle of the wheels are ratchets and pawls, F, so arranged that the gear wheels shall only be rotated when the machine moves forward, and remain at rest when the machine is backed or is turning at the end of a row. From the frame, A, is suspended by means of supports, H, a broad digger or spade, I, and these supports being connected with a cross bar at the top, this digger can. be raised or lowered to pass the requisite depth into the ground, under the potatoes, by means of a screw and crank, Q, and the platform and adjuncts immediately to be described can be made to enter_ "tfejjround at any angle by the screw rod, K the digger "Being stapled f rom Hbfirfenge or axle. G is the driver's seat". A small gear wheel, E, works from D, a bevel wheel, 0, placed on the end of its shaft, and both these can be disconnected so as to not to receive any motion from D, by the lever P. The bevel wheel 0 rotates the shaft N, by another bevel wheel, and this shaft has on its lower end four arms, L, which scrape the potatoes from the dirt as they are dug up by I, and clean them by bringing them through the grooves in the platform J. The bearing of N is protected by a rim, M, so that no dirt can enter and interfere with its free working, and to which the bearing is hinged that it may conform to the inequalities of the ground, and the angle at which the platform is placed. It is a simple and perfect machine and is the invention of J. E. Hardenbergh, of Ful-tonville N. Y., from whom any more desired information concerning rights (which are for sale) or other particulars can be obtained. It was patented Dec. 22, 1857.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 43This article was published with the title “Hardenbergh's Improved Potato Digger” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 43 (), p. 340
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07031858-340d

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