Harvesting Machine Collection

Hellard's Patent Victoria Side-Delivery Reaping and Mowing Machine, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Hellard's Patent Victoria Side-Delivery Reaping and Mowing Machine, 1860. Cutting the corn [ie wheat] when it is ripe is one of the most important operations of harvest...the improvements [Mr

Harvesting oats, southeastern Georgia?, ca. 1940. Creator: Marion Post Wolcott
Harvesting oats, southeastern Georgia?

Grenfell wheat farm, Australia, c1920s. Artist: Cavenders Ltd
Grenfell wheat farm, Australia, c1920s. From the Colonial Series set of hand-coloured cigarette cards issued with Army Club Cigarettes, Cavanders Ltd, c1920s

Harvesting wheat, Australia, 1928. Cigarette card produced by the Westminster Tobacco Co Ltd, Australia, 2nd series

Cyrus Hall McCormick, Irish American farmer, inventor, businessman, and marketer, (c1924). McCormick (1809-1884) became famous as the inventor of the mechanical reaper in 1831

Cyrus McCormicks reaping machine of 1831 (patented 1834), c1851. This, the first widely adopted reaping machine, was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London where it was awarded a gold medal

Bells reaping machine, 1851. Artist: GH Swanston
Bells reaping machine, 1851. Scottish clergyman and inventor Patrick Bells (1799-1869) reaping machine of 1826 was the first successful reaping machine, but was not commercialised

L Agriculture Moderne, 1897. Scene showing harvest time with a steam powered threshing machine in the background. In the foreground an adviser, holding a copy of L Agriculture Moderne

Cyrus McCormicks reaper and binder, 1877
Cyrus McCormicks reaper and binder, an improvement on the model patented in 1831 which was a reaper only, 1877

Cyrus McCormicks reaping machine, 1862. Patented in America in 1831and shown at the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, London, 1851, it was the first widely adopted mechanical reaper

Ploughing the fields in 1900, horses and farmer with harvesting machine

AGRI2A-00119
Harvesting wheat on a Dakota bonanza farm, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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"Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Evolution of Harvesting Machines" Step back in time to the early 19th century, where farming was a labor-intensive process. In southeastern Georgia, circa 1940, Marion Post Wolcott captures the essence of hard work as farmers harvest oats using a primitive harvesting machine. Meanwhile, on Grenfell wheat farm in Australia during the 1920s, Cavenders Ltd showcases their innovative approach to agriculture with their state-of-the-art harvesting machine. The year is 1928 and another Australian farmer takes center stage as he skillfully operates a harvesting machine to gather bountiful wheat crops. This scene serves as a testament to the rapid advancements in agricultural technology during this era. One cannot discuss harvesting machines without mentioning Cyrus Hall McCormick – an Irish American farmer turned inventor and businessman who forever changed the industry's landscape. A photograph from around 1924 depicts McCormick himself standing proudly next to one of his groundbreaking inventions. However, even these remarkable machines were not immune to nature's wrath. In 1902, lightning strikes an unfortunate farming machine - a stark reminder that progress sometimes faces unexpected setbacks. Traveling further back in time brings us face-to-face with Cyrus McCormick's reaping machine of 1831 (patented in 1834). This invention revolutionized farming by automating the arduous task of cutting grain crops efficiently and effectively. Another notable creation from this period is Bell's reaping machine from 1851; its intricate design captured beautifully by GH Swanston. As we delve into late-19th-century France through "L Agriculture Moderne" published in 1897, we witness how modernization continued its relentless march forward. Here we find illustrations showcasing various advanced agricultural implements including ingenious harvesting machines designed for maximum productivity. Fast forward to America in1877 when Cyrus McCormick introduces his revolutionary reaper and binder combination – an all-in-one solution that further streamlined the harvesting process. This invention marked a turning point in agricultural history.