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  Finch's Feeding Rack  

William T. Finch
1838 - 1897






WILLIAM T. FINCH, OF PLAINWELL, MICHIGAN.

FEEDING-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,435, dated February 8, 1881.
Application filed December 2, 1880. (No model.)


To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. FINCH, of Plainwell, Allegan county, Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feeding-Racks for Domestic Animals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and correct description of the same.
  The object of my invention is a portable feeding-rack which may, with very little trouble, be converted from a rack to a feeding-trough, and whenever required may be thrown entirely open to clear out snow or litter of any kind.
  That others may fully understand my invention, I will particularly describe it, having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein--
  Figure 1 is a perspective view of my rack.
  My feeding rack and trough is constructed as follows: Two stout X-frames, A A, are provided to form the end timbers. A crossbar, B, is mortised to the top of the pieces A. Two long and wide boards, C C, are secured upon the outer edges of the beam A, meeting at the upper edges above the intersection of the timbers A A, to unite the end frames A A B and form the back boards for the feed to rest upon. The ends are inclosed by the boards E E, resting in grooves in the timbers a and B, except the lower edge at c, which has steady-pins. A rack composed of two heavy cleat-pieces, d d, united by slats e e is hinged to each extremity of the top piece, B, and is so proportioned that the lower edge of said rack will, when in position, just fall against the lower edge of the board C, and when it is to be used for feeding hay or other long feed the rack may be held in place at its lower edge by a button or pin, the fodder being put in at the open top, as is common with racks. A flap-board, G, is hinged to the lower edge of the board C, and when the rack is down said board hangs down, as shown, or may be supported in a horizontal position for a guard, to prevent waste of the food.
  When grain or short feed is used the flap-board may be turned up and secured by the button or pin to form a trough, and the rack may be left hanging in the front to prevent waste, or may be turned over on top of the frame, as may be desired.
  When the rack is to be cleared of snow or litter of any kind the flap-board is allowed to hang down, and the rack is turned up over the top of the frame, so that there remains no place for snow or litter to rest; and it may accordingly be cleaned out with a broom almost without trouble.
  Having described my improvement, what I claim as new is--
  1. A feeding-rack provided with a swinging rack, hinged at its upper edge, combined with a hinged flap-board below, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
  2. A feeding-rack constructed with X-shaped end pieces and connecting-boards C C, which form a close bottom for the feed to rest upon, combined wiht the swinging racks hinged at their upper edges, and at the lower edges resting against said boards C near their lower edges, and the flap-boards G, hinged at the lower edges of the boards C, as and for the purpose set forth.
  3. A double feeding-rack composed of the frames A A, provided with the top bars, B B, combined with two swinging racks, two bottom boards c c, and two flap-boards, so that stock my feed at bothsides independently.

WILLIAM T. FINCH.

  Witnesses:
   ROBT. BURGET,
   ROBT. F. JUDSON.



















    
Click to enlarge
Photos from patent
  application

Finch, William T. inventor; 1881 February 8. Feeding Rack. United States patent US 237,435.




William T. Finch is buried in the West Cooper Cemetery in Cooper, Kalamazoo County next to his first wife, Eliza A. (Woodard) Finch and then his second wife after the death of Eliza, Lois F. (Lillie) Finch. He is also buried next to his parents Samuel and Elizabeth B. (Cornell) Finch, his brother Orville Finch, and his infant son, Frederick J. Finch.



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