Melville Fuller

“ A horse is to be attached to each plow, and the coupling so made as to allow an independent motion. Of the Pratt patent, Judge BLODGETT says that Pattee's arched and jointed axle is fully anticipated by it in form of construction, function, and mode of operation. This Pratt patents shows a flexible, parallel, tongueless cultivator, in which each horse pulls his own side of the machine. The patent to William Tasker, of 1859, has an axle hinged to draught or spindle-arms, having projecting bars so coupled that the wheels are retained in the line of progression by the draught of the animals. ”

“ The runners are described as 'journaled on the outer ends of the spindles,' but it is also stated that they 'may be attached rigidly to any suitable part of the axle, at one or more points of attachment, and extend backward in the same manner as described.' These runners, having the wheel-spindle or axle for their fixed point of support, are necessarily rigid and unyielding, and work automatically, their rear ends being raised by the pulling of the team, and lowered by the weight of the plow-beams when placed on the hooks. ”

“ Robertson's patent is for a tongueless cultivator, with draughtplates, wheels, and beams, and runners pivoted to the beams near the axle, and arranged with set-screws to lock the plows up and let them down. It is immaterial to the operation of the runners whether they act directly on the plow-beams or through the axle. In appellees' machine the runner is arranged upon the end of an arm which projects backward from the axle. When the plows are in use the runner is turned up out of the way. ”