CRISP AND JONES
The 11th. of November 1875 is an important day in Maldon's history. On that day, Victorian Patent No. 2136 was granted to two Maldon inventors. They were John William Crisp, of Parker Street; and David Jones, of Reef Street. Both men were miners, but their invention was for use in agriculture and was titled: "Improvements in reaping and binding machines".

Maldonstyle's Keith Harper is very keen to hear about machines that incorporate Crisp & Jones's patent. So, if you have any old agricultural equipment lying around, have a good look at it - it might be an important part of Maldon's history.

ANTHONY GEORGE MALDON MICHELL
The second inventor that we wish to highlight here is Melbourne engineer, A. G. M. Michell (1870-1959), whose parents lived in Maldon for a time. The story of this remarkable man has been written down by Sydney Walker, who was an employee of Michell's company Crankless Engines Limited. Further information about A.G.M. Michell can be found by clicking here.

JOHN ALSOP
On the 12th of January, 1875, Victorian Patent No. 2011 was granted to John Alsop of South Muckleford, in the shire of Maldon, in the colony of Victoria, farm laborer, for "An invention/or simplifying the, process of threshing and winnowing"

DESCRIPTION: The machine is fed, where the corn is bagged in the old machines, into a large drum driven at a slow speed. The corn and straw are thrown to the top of an enclosed passage, in which is an elevating riddle belt working on undulating rollers. The straw descends down a screen in which arc revolving riddle drums, revolved by the corn in its descent. The straw falls on to a concave, where it is bound with ropy, and thence lifted on to the stack. The corn is elevated sixteen feet from the enclosed passage to the winnowing machine, and descends down a screen through a blower into a bag, (No drawings.) (Lapsed.)