Plastering Machine

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

A machine for the purpose of superseding manual labor in the operation of plastering walls, has been invented by Isaac Hussey, of Harveysburgh, Ohio, who has taken measures to secure a patent. It consists of a movable frame upon rollers that can be adjusted to suit any height, and of a smaller frame sliding within it. The latter serves to support a mortar box containing the trowel, which is raised and lowered by means of a drum and endless chain. When in operation the trowel is supplied with mortar by a rod and follower, which are worked by a lever, the quantity being regulated or shut off, as required, by a slide that covers the opening in the box. For plaster, ing ceiling it is only requisite to raise the mortar box to the top ai the frame, and for side walls it is adjusted accordingly by turning it to a proper position. For this last-named operation the box is shifted by the sliding frame, which is moved bac k and forth for that purpose by means of the already-mentioned lever. There are also various cords and pulleys attached to the machine for facilitating the operations of the different parts, which are included in the invention and form a part of it.

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American