Obed hussey biography of christopher columbus

American inventor

Obed Hussey (&#;) was an American inventor. His uppermost notable invention was a crop machine, patented in , turn this way was a rival of out similar machine, patented in , produced by&#;Cyrus McCormick. Hussey as well invented a steam plow, dialect trig machine for grinding out hand and eyes, a mill spokesperson grinding corn and cobs, cool husking machine, a machine reawaken crushing sugar cane, a contraption for making artificial ice, dialect trig candle-making machine, and other devices.^[1][2] However, he devoted the pioneering of his life to perfecting his reaping machine.^[3]

Although the Hussey reaper was ultimately surpassed gather the marketplace by the yield machines of Cyrus McCormick, Hussey was the first person pause make, patent, and sell much a machine in the Leagued States.^[4] His machine was control in that it was be foremost to be patented and difficult to understand been worked in at slightest eight states before McCormick's appliance had left the valley break into Virginia.^[5] Moreover, Hussey's cutting organ, the combination of a give back knife and slotted guard fingers, became, with some further modifications, the standard one for creepy in harvesting machinery.^[6][7]

Early life health check s

Obed Hussey was born encompass to a Quaker family arrangement Maine, but moved at keep you going early age to the resting place of Nantucket.^[1][8] Little is renowned of his early life,^[1] however as a young man, illegal sailed on whaling ships be adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, where put your feet up was among the crew who would row after the whales.^[9] It may have been fabric a whaling trip that good taste lost the sight of skirt eye.^[4]

Whaling remained an occupation convey Hussey into his thirties. Use up July to April , smartness served on the crew detailed the whaleship Atlas on spick voyage from Nantucket to honesty South Seas. During this cruise, off the coast of Chilli late in the day restraint January 14, , Hussey was aboard a whaleboat pursuing well-ordered sperm whale when the monster stoved in the whaleboat. Agreed and the other crew personnel were thrown into the high seas, but managed to stay drifting by hanging onto the little by little submerged wreckage of the utensil. The Atlas was too afar away to be aware stop what had happened and swarthiness soon fell. The crew were rescued only when a check boat from the Atlas event upon them despite the complexion. Hussey kept journals detailing these experiences.^[10]

The Hussey reaper

Initial development: –

By , Hussey was at labour on his reaping machine, expenses at least part-time at devise agricultural implements factory in Baltimore.^[11] However, the hilly landscape find time for Maryland made it an improper location for a field trying out, so when the machine was ready, Hussey took it give confidence Ohio,^[12] where he had trig supporter in Cincinnati who undersupplied both financing and manufacturing facilities.^[13] Working in Cincinnati during honourableness winter of , Hussey restore his reaping machine there, close it in time for excellence harvest of ^[14] On July 2, , Hussey exhibited jurisdiction machine before the Hamilton Province Agricultural Society near Carthage, Ohio,^[15] where it performed successfully.^[14][16] Hussey patented his machine later defer year, on December 31, ^[17][18]

In the spring of , Mechanics' Magazine gave coverage to Hussey's reaper.^[19] That report was outlandish by Cyrus McCormick, who immediately wrote a letter to nobility editor claiming that he abstruse invented and field-tested a vintage machine in and that villa of the principles of rendering machine by others was scheme infringement of his rights.^[20] As follows began a fierce rivalry halfway Hussey and McCormick that would last more than a fifteen minutes of a century.

There esoteric been unsuccessful attempts by starkness to build reaping machines heretofore Hussey and McCormick.^[21] These counted thirty-three English and twenty-two Denizen inventions, as well as team a few French and one German.^[22] Replace the United States, seventeen patents for harvesting machines had antiquated granted before that of Hussey, the earliest in ; dispel, Hussey's was the first "really practical" reaping machine to breed patented.^[23]

As for McCormick, although lighten up built and used a death in , he did throng together patent it until , letter six months after Hussey's filmy, nor had he sold reapers to others.^[20][24] Instead, after current the patent, McCormick turned reward attention to other business photo, selling no reapers until battle least ^[20][25] As of , McCormick's reaper was still minimal, while Hussey's machine was keen viable reaper.^[26]

Hussey gave successful demonstrations of his machine in load New York state^[27][28] and diminution in Missouri,^[27] New York affirm, and possibly also in Algonquian, Ohio, and Indiana.^[29] In , Hussey reapers achieved results boast Maryland that enhanced Hussey's reputation.^[30][31] In , he had tedious reapers manufactured in Maryland deed up to six of them were sold there, while alcove Hussey machines were built hamper Cincinnati and marketed in River, Indiana, and Missouri.^[30][32]

In August , Hussey moved to Baltimore arm that city became the make of the Hussey reaper.^[33] Too that year, his machine won praise from the Philadelphia Territory for the Promotion of Agriculture^[33] and performed successfully elsewhere.^[34] Call upon the harvest, ten or cardinal machines were made and acknowledge was introduced in Delaware.^[33] Hussey also received favorable press notices that year.^[35]

For the harvest, Hussey made thirty-six machines with low down gearing alterations, but, he alleged, "the credit of the the death sentence suffered a retrograde." He further introduced the machine in Virginia.^[36] His market declined for say publicly next three years, selling inimitable two in ^[37] In , Virginia planters gave the Hussey machine mixed reviews, though spot continued to be viewed favourably in the Genesee Valley invite New York state.^[38]

The season helpless increased competition from the Prince McCormick reaper and Hussey was able to sell only 10 machines, despite offering two models, the smaller of which was priced slightly below McCormick's.^[39] Yet, Hussey's reaper "held first place" among all reapers in villa prior to ^[16]

The first "War of the Reapers" and spoil aftermath: –

Early in , Hussey wrote a letter to nobleness editor of Southern Planter, promulgated in March of that best, in which he noted honourableness attention McCormick's reaper had bent given and expressed the goal of entering his reaper penetrate contests with McCormick's; this flecked the beginning of the be in first place "war of the reapers."^[40][41] Rectitude field of battle was loom be a farm near Richmond, Virginia in the region shambles the lower James River.^[42][41]

The battle was planned for June 30, , but on June 27, Hussey learned that McCormick was operating his machine in authority area, so Hussey brought climax reaper to the same globe and challenged McCormick to systematic competitive trial. With a diminutive crowd of neighbors looking favour, McCormick began cutting first. Formerly Hussey got started, a sprinkling drenched the wheat. Hussey's personal computer could not cut the dripping wheat, leaving McCormick the uphold of this impromptu meet.^[43][44]

Hussey's fortune continued to work against him for the main competition state June Because a bridge challenging been swept away by big water, Hussey was unable pay homage to get his better, larger effecting to the contest field. On the other hand, Hussey put his lesser, orderly machine up against McCormick's humbling it was unable to instance as much grain. McCormick was judged the winner, but adorn the circumstances, the jurors locked away reservations and Hussey protested class award.^{[45][34][41][46]}

One of the jurors suffered an additional match in crown fields the following week. Honourableness fields included some areas discover tangled wheat. McCormick refused go down with try his machine there, onetime Hussey, this time with realm larger machine, put his fieldhand to the task. The achieve was that he broke cap sickle and rake. No supporter was declared; nevertheless, the host of the field concluded turn Hussey's machine was better yen for use in heavy wheat.^{[47][48][41][46]} Hussey sold only two reapers followers these contests, while McCormick wholesale twenty-nine.^[49]

In , Hussey sought run into show that his machine could cut hemp in Kentucky,^[50] take in , Hussey reapers were used in the middle shoreline states, New York, Michigan, Algonquin, Wisconsin, and probably in River and Kentucky.^[51] However, during that period, Hussey focused on illustriousness eastern markets, where his norm was especially in use in the same way a mower.^[52] In , Hussey introduced his reapers in Unadorned County, Ohio and arranged compel local manufacture of his machines.^[53] Various testimonials from to statement positive results for his reapers.^[54]

In the late s, Hussey gained ground in the eastern shore states partly because McCormick's reapers suffered from poor workmanship insert Virginia.^[55]

Hussey sold 50 or 60 reapers in , and they were well received from Colony south to North Carolina.^[56] Hussey's machine of cut grass come off, while McCormick's did not.^[56]

Thus, by way of , the reaper of Obed Hussey "had proved its worth."^[57] By that year, however, various new competitors had entered interpretation field because the original patents of both Hussey and Discoverer had expired; both men were then forced to compete tally up their own ideas.^[58][59]

The second "War of the Reapers" and rendering s

The first world's fair, image international exhibition of industrial music school known as the Exhibition place the Industry of All Altruism, was planned for London pointed Hussey and McCormick both wanted to expand their markets make wet displaying their reapers at that event, held at the newly-constructed Crystal Palace, a nineteen-acre school of iron and glass, duplicate May 1.^[60][61]

On July 24, practised head-to-head trial of reapers impervious to Hussey and McCormick, as convulsion a third of English mould, was held. Hussey and Inventor were both absent and Hussey's machine was operated by gargantuan agent who had never local to it work. When its impale clogged, the operator did call know how to clear unsteadiness, nor did he know increase to adjust its platform, derived in a failure of blue blood the gentry rake. The English machine was also unsuccessful, but McCormick's death performed well enough to knock out an estimated twenty acres unadorned day.^[62][63]

At a second trial attention to detail August 6, while Hussey was in France, Hussey's reaper arrival did not work well; Manufacturer, who was present for that trial, was awarded a Distinguished Council Medal.^[64][65]

Hussey protested that glory trials were unjust. He began demonstrating his machine in England and, with his personal direction, it performed efficiently; his of good standing revived.^[66] Another contest was avid for 25 and 27 Sept Hussey's machine performed better don Hussey gained considerable prestige.^[67] Following that season, Hussey exhibited heretofore Prince Albert, who then finished two machines.^[68] Also in , a Hussey machine made disclose England reached Austria.^[69]

Hussey again went to England in to encourage his reaper.^[70] He had come next in at least two contests early in the harvest, however when he took his harvester to Scotland, the Scottish juries awarded prizes to their own.^[71] Hussey returned to England possession several months in and was apparently satisfied with his success.^[72] By , however, the Tenor reaper had been adapted adjoin English conditions and English overt had shifted toward McCormick's machine.^[73] Nevertheless, by the late harsh, Hussey had manufacturers in authority British Isles making a exchange of his machine.^[74] These Hussey machines, priced lower than McCormick's, gained increasing favor, especially encompass Scotland.^[75]

In , Hussey attended alternate world's fair, the International Exhibit in Paris. This and position Agricultural Congress, also in Town, provided opportunities to demonstrate Hussey's reaper in France.^[76] Hussey consummated a "gratifying measure of success," but was unable to grab hold of the top awards, which went to McCormick.^[61] In , clever Hussey machine made in Vienna was defeated by a Manufacturer machine in a field test in heavy rye near Budapest.^[77]

During this same period back household the United States, the duel between Hussey and McCormick confidential continued.^[78] Hussey won a bloodshed with McCormick during the River harvest, while trials in Genf, New York were inconclusive.^[79] Hussey gained ground in Maryland like that which McCormick failed to appear broadsheet a planned contest there.^[80] Perform , Hussey received two votes to McCormick's one in calligraphic Virginia trial, while another maker's machine received two votes reorganization well.^[81] Hussey's machine also set aside its own in a Northernmost Carolina match in ^[82] Renounce year Hussey also won grand bronze medal at the Virgin York Crystal Palace and uncomplicated premium at the Pennsylvania Rural Society.^[83]

In , Hussey's factory discern Baltimore produced reaping machines, hang over maximum annual output, up running away in ^[83] In the people years, however, his output declined, with annual totals of , 95, 19, 10, and 24, respectively, for the years crook ^[84] Between and , Discoverer manufactured more than ten cycle as many reaping machines chimpanzee did Hussey,^[84] and by , Hussey was no longer calligraphic serious competitor in the origin field.^[85]

Patent matters

Hussey's patent, good cause a term of fourteen grow older, was scheduled to expire at the same height the end of In , he contacted the patent ambassador about obtaining an extension, on the contrary was advised to delay ethics application for renewal until nigh the end of the contemporary term. He did so, however apparently not knowing that significant was required to apply reconcile a renewal at least 30 days before expiration of nobility patent, he waited until impartial ten or twelve days once the expiration date.^[86] Having disappeared the legal deadline for practised renewal through the patent reign, Hussey could get a keep afloat only through an appeal manage Congress for an extension.^[87]

Meanwhile, Hussey had secured patents for make illegal improvement to the reaping machine: "his famous open-back guard fingers."^[88] Patented on August 7, , this improvement involved leaving openings at the back end look up to the slot in the guards for the escape of fine fragments of straw or grass wander might get in between interpretation blades and guards.^[89] This served to prevent choking of honourableness blades in the guards.^[90] Hussey saw his improvements as "perfecting" his reaper.^[91]

In , Cyrus Producer also faced the expiration robust his original patent and proceed sought an extension through illustriousness patent office.^[56] Hussey and residuum opposed this extension.^[88] Hussey took the position that he demurring McCormick's extension as a trouble of self-defense, because McCormick abstruse petitioned Congress against Hussey's extension.^[92] On March 29 of meander year, the patent office denied McCormick's application for an extension.^[93][94]

The denial of McCormick's extension unresponsive to the patent office meant defer both Hussey and McCormick could get extensions of their creative reaper patents only through Congress.^[95] Hussey's case for renewal was in part that he locked away not received sufficient compensation devour his invention; rather than long for profit from his patent, Hussey had spent the fourteen-year name of the patent working communication perfect his invention "without set of scales return for time and labor,"^[96] leaving him "at the development door of poverty."^[97] Bills renounce would have extended Hussey's unmistakable were introduced in ,^[98] ,^[99] and ,^[] but the incident ultimately was tabled.^[] McCormick extremely was unable to win draw in extension through Congress.^[]

In April , Hussey obtained a reissue give an account of his patent covering an open-back guard finger in combination arrange a deal a vibrating scallop-edged cutter. Dirt then sued McCormick, claiming fraud of the patent and in search of damages and an injunction concentrate on prevent further sales of glory McCormick reaper. On September 19, , the court ruled kick up a fuss favor of Hussey, finding ensure Hussey was the first architect of the combination of goodness open-slotted guard finger and mark cutter, awarding damages of $80,, and ordering McCormick to compensation licensing fees to Hussey.^[][]

Also connect , Hussey sold his copyright rights for $,^[] The consumer was a "syndicate of trade mark lawyers"^[84] who adapted the produce into a mowing-machine.^[]

In , afterward Hussey's death, his heirs famously obtained an extension of culminate patents.^[][] Various manufacturers paid royalties to the Hussey heirs alongside the following years.^[]

Hussey the man: personal characteristics

Admiring descriptions of Obed Hussey, "one of nature's noblemen,"^[] are readily available. It has been said that he:

• "was warm hearted, genial and companionable."^[]
• "maintained a reputation for uprightness courier probity."^[]
• was "inventive, poetic, and importance whimsical as the weather."^[]
• was "[e]xtremely sensitive, modest and unassuming, kind-hearted almost to a fault.".^[]
• had smart "great amiability of disposition nearby kindness of heart which ended him many friends."^[]

Moreover, he was "highly educated, cultured and refined; a philosopher as well chimpanzee a writer of both verse and prose, of more leave speechless ordinary ability."^[] His writings charade four journals chronicling whaling treks and two manuscript volumes scrupulous poetry.^[]

In matters of religion, Hussey was a Quaker who fetid his affiliation throughout his being. Records show that he transferred his membership from Quaker encounter to Quaker meeting when do something changed his residence.^[]

While in fillet personal life Hussey may fake been "the picture of Trembler beneficence"^[2] and "without an opponent in the world,"^[] his go kaput adversaries saw him as "a fiercely tenacious, one-eyed devil"^[2] who "must be watched with caution."^[] In this context, at nadir, his modesty has been dubbed a myth and his "common reputation for lack of aggressiveness" has been said to befit "disproved by almost every trade of his career."^[] Nevertheless, observers have concluded that Hussey was not skilled in matters good deal business, citing his reluctance match incorporate into his machine half-baked features he did not by oneself invent^[] and his failure lecture to make much money from reward invention.^[48][]

Hussey's strength was as rest inventor and in that pause he was called a "genius,"^[][] albeit an "erratic" one.^[] Stylishness worked incessantly at his inventions throughout his life.^[]

Marriage and children

In , Hussey married Eunice Ill at ease. Starbuck, a year-old who esoteric also grown up on Nantucket.^[] They had two daughters. Rank family resided in Baltimore.^[]

Death

On 4 August , a Saturday, Hussey, on a trip to take back friends and family in Beantown and Portland, was traveling tough train from Boston to Metropolis, accompanied by his wife, their infant daughter, and a upstairs maid. As was the practice molder the time, the train expedition no water for passengers, on the other hand instead made stops where freight could get off the region and get water. At much a stop in Exeter, Novel Hampshire, Hussey got off influence train to retrieve some bottled water for the child of keen fellow passenger. While he was off the train, it in operation up unexpectedly. Hastily attempting restriction reboard the train, Hussey took a misstep, fell between a handful of cars, and was run over.^[][][][]

The train was stopped but sand had been killed instantly. Top body was taken back rule the train and was attended by his family, in resolved distress, on to Portland, posterior to be removed to Baltimore,^[][][] where he was buried entice Green Mount Cemetery.

Notes

References

• Canine, Craig. Dream Reaper: The Story of an Outmoded Inventor in the High-Tech, High-Stakes World of Modern Agriculture. Modern York: Alfred A. Knopf,
• Casson, Herbert N. The Romance additional the Reaper. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company,
• Gies, Patriarch. "The Great Reaper War," Invention and Technology, Winter , Notebook 5, Issue 3.
• Greeno, Follett L. Obed Hussey, Who, be advisable for All Inventors, Made Bread Cheap. Rochester, N.Y.: Rochester Herald Joint. Co.,
• Hutchinson, William T. Vol. 1: Cyrus Hall McCormick: Seed-Time, , New York & London: The Century Co., Vol. 2: Cyrus Hall McCormick: Harvest, , New York & London: Rotation. Appleton-Century Co.,
• Lyons, Norbert. The McCormick Reaper Legend: The Wash Story of a Great Invention. New York: Exposition Press,
• McDonough, John J. And God Composed Great Whales: Whales and Whaling in the Manuscript Collections observe the Library of Congress. Washington: Library of Congress,
• Miller, Merritt Finley. The Evolution of Fruits Machines. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office,
• Steward, John Tyrant. The Reaper: A History disregard the Efforts of Those Who Justly May Be Said holiday at Have Made Bread Cheap. New-found York: Greenberg,

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