The Hays free press. [volume], May 22, 1919, Image 5

About The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
THE KNIFE WEEDER
Patented by
H. D. CLAYTON, ,
Hill City, Kansas
The Knife Weeder has been in use
by the farmers of Graham county for
a number of years.
It is made to take one row, or two
rows, or three rows, the first time
over, on all crops planted with the
lister.
It is all steel and iron, except the
connecting plank.
It is the lightest weeder made, and
also the strongest, built to last a life
time.
It pulls lighter than any other kind
of a weeder.
The knives can be adjusted to any
desired position.
The knives can, be reversed, doub
ling their usefulness.
The connecting plank rests on roll
ers, at both ends, reducing the side
friction.
The weight of the driver can be
shifted to suit conditions. -
The steel runners are easily re
placed, if they should ever wear out
The "V" hitch controls the machine
perfectly.
Its open construction gives it light
weight.
Its complete system of bracing
makes it extra strong.
The knives can be kept sharp
cheaper than you can buy oil and
grease for wheels and discs.
It has no boxings nor spindles to
wear out.
It does away with costly repair
bills.
It will get the weeds at any stage
of their growth.
It does perfect work in heavy weeds
that no other weeder can handle.
It leaves the ground in the best of
condition for any succeeding cultiva
tion. It does not throw the soil away
from the corn.
It does not pitch the dirt up to cen
ter of the ridge, and make your horses
lame to walk on it the next time over.
It does not roll the dirt over and
over, to lose its moisture in a dry
time.
It leaves the row in better shape
and the ridge in better shape, than
any other machine made.
It is not only a weeder, but a cul
tivator as well. Even if you have no
weeds, it will do better work "the
first time over" than any other ma
chine. It is the right thing in the right
place for "the first time over" in all
listed crops.
It was invented by a Graham coun
ty farmer and a small factory,
equipped with special machinery, is
making them at Hill City.
It is manufactured and sold by H.
D. Clayton, Hill City, Kansas. Write
for prices and further information.
K. Gnaggy, of Lucerne, Kan., trad
ed off his two John Deere weeders
and replaced them with two double
row Knife Weeders in the spring of
1918. He says that he formerly used
knife weeders, before he bought the
disc machines; and, after having ex
perience with both kinds, he knows
that he can be more successful with
his listed crops by using the Knife
Weeder.
Every farmer who owns a
lister needs a good Knife
Weeder. They are sold by
H. D. Clayton, Hill City,
Kansas, and are made to
take one row, two rows or
three rows.
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Handle me
famprweel Keife
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You Can Order One Direct From the
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The Knife Weeder succeeds where
others fail.
The Knife Weeder gets the weeds
big or little.
The Knife Weeder is the cheapest
and the best.
The Knife Weeder gets the weeds
-all the weeds.
The Knife Weeder makes more
bushels to the acre.
The Knife Weeder first, then the
harrow, for all listed crops.
The Knife Weeder i3 the greatest
moisture saver ever invented.
The Knife Weeder loosens the sur
face and saves the moisture.
Two Knife Weeders (two-row) can
easily be hauled in a Ford car.
The Knife Weeder will last a life
time with no repairs to speak of.
The Knife Weeder always sells well
at a sale, no matter how old it is.
The Knife Weeder costs less and
is worth more than any other weeder.
The Knife Weeder is the best and
cheapest machine ever put into a corn
field.
The Knife, Weeder leaves the soil
in fine shape for the harrow, or any
other tool.
The Knife Weeder makes more corn
to the row, more corn to the acre,
more corn in the crib.
It will pay to make a special trip to
Hill City to see the new improve
ments in Knife Weeders.
The Knife Weeder is made for the
man who wants the best, as well as
the man who wants the cheapest.
The Knife Weeder cuts the capil
lary attraction in the soil and pre
vents the moisture from escaping.
The Knife Weeder is not only the
cheapest machine on the market, but
it does the work better than any other
machine made.
The Knife Weeder is the lightest
running, and the cheapest, fastest and
best machine for all listed crops. Ask
the man who has one.
The Knife Weeder works side by
side with any other weeder, and
proves it's worth more, by making
more corn to the acre.
The man who makes the Knife
Weeder makes one fixed profit on each
machine. The man who buys it makes
a bigger profit on it every day he uses
it.
The Knife Weeder is hitched closer
to the team than any other machine
on the farm. This means light draft
and close work at the ends of the
rows.
At the .Weeder Factory in Hill City,
is an old Knife Weeder that was used
for fifteen years. The knives are worn
out, but the rest of the machine is
good for another fifteen years.
During the dry summer of 1917, it
was easy to see that the Knife Weeder
is the greatest moisture saver ever
put into a corn field. It kept the fields
green longer than any of the fields
gone over with any other weeder.
Dealer Does Not
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jl TUTfUl P!, .
THE IMPROVED KNIFE WEEDER
(Patented by II. D. Clayton, Hill
City, Kansas.)
The Improved Knife Weeder has
never been equaled for saving mois
ture and killing weeds. It is the
cheapest, fastest, and best machine
for cultivating all listed crops. It is
light running, easily adjusted for all
the various conditions of field work,
and guaranteed to be strong enough,
in every part, to stand any strain,
usual or unusual, that may be put
upon it in any field that has been
planted with a lister. Made for one
row, two rows and three rows. Rigged
for two, four and six horses. Strong
ly endorsed oy the Fort Hays Experi
ment Station. Every farmer who
owns a lister needs this machine. No
other equals it for saving moisture
and killing weeds.
THE WEEDER FACTORY,
Hill City, Kansas.
THE IMPROVED KNIFE WEEDER
Prices for Season of 1919
One row machine, complete with
two long knives (4-foot) and two
short knives (14-inch) and eveners for
two horses, $27.00. If eveners are not
wanted deduct $2.00. For 4 12-foot
knives,- instead of 4-foot, add $1.00.
For 5-foot knives add $2.00.
Two-row machine, complete with
four long knives (4-foot) and four
short knives (14-inch) and eveners for
four horses $54.00. If eveners are not
wanted, deduct $4.00. For 4 12-foot
knives, instead of 4-foot, add $2.00.
For 5-foot knives add $4.00. For auto
matic centering attachment on seat
frame add $5.00. For double lever
control on seat frame, instead of the
automatic centering attachment, add
$10.00.
Three-row machine for four horses,
complete with six long knives (3-foot)
and six short knives (14-inch) and
eveners for four horses, $81.00. If
eveners are not wanted, deduct $6.00.
For 4-foot knives, instead of 3-foot,
add $6.00.
Three-row machine for six horses,
complete with six long knives (4-foot)
and six short knives (14-inch) and
eveners for six horses, $88.00. If
eveners are not wanted deduct $6.00.
For 4 12-foot knives, instead of 4
foot, add $3.00. For 5-foot knives add
$6.00. Centering attachments are not
necessary on three-row machines.
Extra knives, both long and short,
will be furnished for $1.00 per foot.
They are all well made out of the very
best grade of open-heath plow steel.
It does not pay to use cheap material
for this purpose. 4 12-foot knives
are recommended for average work on
all machines, except the three-row
machine for four horses. This ma
chine takes its three rows right to
gether, and is only designed to cut the
shoulder without going through the
ridge. For this kind of work, it is an
easy four-horse load, and knives from
three to four feet long are all that is
necessary. On all the other machines
4-foot knives work well under favor
able conditions, the 4 12-foot knives
under average conditions, and the 5
foot knives under bad conditions, such
as heavy trash and sticky soil.
Owing to the very uncertain steel
situation, all prices are subject to
change without notice. It is safer to
write for prices before ordering.
The shipping weight of the one-row
machine is 100 pounds; the two-row
250 pounds and the three-row 350
pounds. Your depot agent will tell
you what the freight will be from Hill
City to your shipping point.
Prices are F. O. B. Hill City, and
cash must accompany all orders, which
will be filled as promptly as possible,
in the order in which they are re
ceived. t
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Ka ksas State Agiiccltxtkai. College ajtd United States
. DePAHTMEXT OF ACBICVLTOAL. CO-OPEBATIXG
CO-OPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
STATE OF-KANSAS
SCOTT CITY
January 17, 1918.
Mr. H. D. Clayton,
Hill City, Kansas.
My Dear Mr. Clayton :
I am pleased to get the nice long clipping
which is good descriptive matter, on operating the
knife weeder. We used your machine very successful
ly last year as a one-row machine and two parties
borrowed it and used it as a two-row machine. In
either style it makes friends for itself and certainly
does nice work. One of these men said that it handled
weeds much larger than he had been able- to handle
with any of his other machines.
We shall try to have it in service where it
will do the most good possible the coming year.
Yours very truly,
District Agricultural Agent.
FORT HAYS EXPERIMENT STATION
Branch of the
KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
CHAS. R. WEEKS, Superintendent
HAYS. KANSAS
August 3, 1918.
Mr. H. D. Clayton,
Hill City, Kansas.
Dear Mr. Clayton :
Your good letter of the 23rd at hand explain
ing the price of knives, which is satisfactory. The lit
tle machine certainly did good work here on the
Station, getting weeds that we could not get with any
thing else. It is not often we have very many weeds
in our field, but this year, on some pieces that were
listed very early, and then we were delayed on account
of rains, and had to plant some over after these rains,
it was necessary to use your good weeder to clean up
the field. Later I will give you a report and possibly
send you some pictures.
Very truly yours,
CRW-AC
THE NORTH SIDE HARDWARE
H. D. CLAYTON, Proprietor
Hill City, Kansas, August 6, 1918.
Mr. Chas. R. Weeks, Supt.,
Hays, Kansas
Dear Mr. Weeks: I have your kind let
ter of the 3rd and was glad to hear from you, and to
knowr that the little weeder you bought of me did you
so much good this season. But, Mr. Weeks, you have
demonstrated only a part of its usefulness. You have
seen it do a good job of killing weeds. It will do more
than that. It saves moisture in the soil by cutting the
capillary attraction and leaving a thin loose layer of
earth in the row and on the ridge. It is the best ma
chine to use for the first time over, on all listed crops,
even if there are no weeds in the field.
I would suggest that next spring you try the ex
periment on twenty rows, ten with the knife weeder
and ten with the disc weeder or any other. tool. From
. time to time measure the moisture content in each plot.
You will observe that the dryer the weather becomes
the more marked will be the difference in the moisture
content of the two plots. . Hundreds of fields in this
county have demonstrated that crops always stand the
dry weather better after the knife weeder than after
any other tool, when used for the first cultivation.
You can run the lister in the winter, or early
spring, and plant whenever the right time comes,
knowing that the knife weeder will take care of the
. shoulder and the ridge, thoroughly eliminating all
weed growth there. The planting operation will keep
down the weed growth in the row.
I shall be pleased to receive the report you men
tion, and the pictures. If you and I have discovered
something that is good, then we should do what we can
to let the public know about it, and to give the reasons
why.
Very truly yours,
DIVISION OF EXTENSION
COUKTT ACETCT Won
Superintendent.
4 1CLWLcnSls'
DIRECTIONS FOR OPERATING
THE KNIFE WEEDER
(Patented by H. D. Clayton, Hill
City, Kansas.)
The long: knife goes under the gas
pipe, with a bolt through the end of
the knife and the pas pipe. Back v
edge of knife slips in between the two
lower castings, and is clamped there,
resting against the bolt. . To make
the knife cut wide or narrow, slip the
castings forward or back on gas pipe
and knife. To give the knife more or
less suction," loosen bolt in end of
knife and loosen clamps on gas pipe.
Then put knife in the position you
want it and tighten the clamps. When
you have the kriife securely clamped
in position, then tighten the bolt in
the end of the knife. Either end of
the knife can be raised or lowered by
sliding the gas pipe up or down on
the posts that it is bolted to. Front
end of knife always gets dull first,
and when it does, you can reverse
ends and sides, making the knife give
double service and last twice as long.
In very deep listing and very high
ridges, put the knife on top of the gas
pipe. You can do this by taking the
castings off and putting them on the
other way, with the longest casting on
top of the gas pipe, instead of below.
Under some conditions, it may be ad
visable to put one or both ends of gas
pipe inside of posts, instead of out
side, using the little bolt castings on
the other side of the post. In using
beveled knife, put the beveled side
down, especially in trashy ground.
Trash will clear better with back end'
running low. Tell the blacksmith to
leave your knives straight, and bevel
both sides alike. Then turn your
knives over frequently, and they will
have a tendency to sharpen them
selves, and also become polished on
both sides. A smooth edge for trash
and a rough" edge for big, heavy
weeds. Run the long knives as high
as you can, and the short knives as
low as you can.
The short knives go under the run
ner at the back end, or under the run
ner at the two holes just back of the
middle post. Use the back position,
unless the dirt is covering up the
plants. If the plants are very small,
use the forward position, which gives
you a fender to keep the dirt away
from the plants. Most short knives
are provided with extra holes to ad
just for width of cut. They are gen
erally provided with an upward turn
at the back end, so they will throw
dirt to the plants. The quantity of
dirt they will throw depends on the
size and shape of these turns. Y"ou
can heat them red hot and change
them to suit conditions. They will
stand considerable hammering cold.
Hammer them out straight, or nearly
straight, if they throw too much dirt.
It is well .to have an extra set or two
of the different kinds, to be used for
different kinds of work. The short
knives are made in several different
sizes and styles, and the long knives
in lengths varying from three feet to
five. The standard short knife is
fourteen inches, and the standard long
knife is four feet, which is about right
for rows planted with a fourteen-inch
lister forty-inches apart.
When you want to use the machine
for the second time over, the runners
should be set further apart.
The hitch can be shortened by drop
ping off a link or two.
On the one-row machine, the seat
may be shifted forward or back, the
seat brace being made in two pieces
so that it can be lengthened or short
ened. If you want to raise the hitch,
put hitch bar on top of runners.
On the' two-row machine, and also
the three-row, the roller frame is fast
ened to top of sled with clamps, so
that it may be shifted forward or back
on top of the runners, to put the
driver's weight toward the front or
toward the back, as may be desired.
This is a very important adjustment,
and has much to do with making the
machine run light and do good work.
If front end of runner is digging into
the ground, then the roller frame is
too far forward. If front end of run
ner does not touch the ground, then
the roller frame is too far back.
On the three-row machine for four
horses, it may be converted into a
two-row machine by taking out the .
middle sled. You can use the same
connecting plank by bolting a short
piece across the hinge, and, instead of
using the regular four-horse eveners
that come with this machine, hitch a
team direct to each sled with an or
dinary two-horse evener. The middle
sled may easily be converted into a
one-row machine.
On the three-row machine for six
horses, we hitch a team direct to -each
sled with an ordinary two-horse even
er, and skip every other row, same
a3 with the two-row machine. . The
hinged connecting plank takes care
of uneven ground.
.Any of the sleds may be taken out
of any of the machines and used as
one-row machines.
You can run the long knives further
back by removing the fenders and atr
tasting the gas pipes to the rear
PC-its, instead q the frcnt ones.
tudy all &f the adjustments csre
fcHy. ni nuk ths eicfclr.e fit ycrsr