clear profit of at least $73. C. H.
McCormick first received a patent fee of $30 on each machine, then
three-fourths of the remainder in the division of profits. It
would thus appear, if these figures are correct--and they are all
sworn to--that C. H. McCormick realized full fifty thousand
dollars clear profit annually, with a margin of eight to ten
thousand dollars for commissions and bad debts in addition.

It would be just as conclusive and reasonable for the _father_ of C. H.
McCormick to claim at this day priority of invention for his Reaper
invented in 1816, "by a number of cylinders standing perpendicularly;"
or for "the invention made by my father in the harvest of 1831, which
satisfied my father to abandon it." This authority, high and official
as all must admit it to be, [and italicised too, by the writer for a
particular object,] clearly proves that the invention of 1831 was an
abortion; for if the principle was effective to cut one acre of grain
properly, any man of common sense knows that it was equally so to cut
one thousand acres; but so complete was the failure that, "During this
interval"--between 1831 and 1834--"_I was often advised by my father and
family to abandon it, and pursue my regular business, as likely to be
more profitable, he having given me a farm._"

Again, "No machines were sold until 1840, and I may say that they were
not of much practical value until the improvements of my second patent
in 1845." What these improvements were we are also informed: "These
improvements consist in reversing the angle of the sickle teeth
alternately, the improved form of the fingers to hold up the corn,
etc.--an iron case to preserve the sickle from clogging, etc.--up to
this period nothing but loss of time and money resulted from my
efforts."

Nor is it at all surprising; for until improvements were added, invented
and long in successful operation by others, the machine would not work,
and consequently no one would buy.

[Sidenote: McCormick's Pen More Effective Than His Reaper]

This letter is the most perfect and complete estopper to priority of
invention--not only for 1831, but to 1841 inclusive, if not to 1845, that
could be _penned_. His _pen_ cuts a "cleaner swath," as we farmers say,
than ever did his Reaper; and this letter at least is certainly C. H.
McCormick's own "invention," which no one else can lay any claim to. Yet,
strange as it may appear, he conte