Equipment contents
Havest contents

This is the only physical evidence that we have left of the use of a grain binder on this farm. These truck wheels would have been attached to the front of the binder as part of the implement tongue in order to hold up the weight so the horses could concentrate on pulling.

However, since we have two threshing machines on the site we can be certain that the grain binder was at work. The tied sheaves of grain would be dumped in groups and someone following on foot would build them into a stooke. At some point in the next few days the wagon crew would come through and pitch the stookes onto the wagon and take them to the stationary threshers where they would be fed in by hand and the grain separated.

This is rear view of the grain binder and shows the complexity of the machine. Here we have all the elements of the modern hay baler:

• a pick up reel that brings the crop into the cutter bar
• a cutter bar just like a mower that cuts the grain
• a transport system, in this case canvas belts, to take the crop to the next station
• a knotter that ties the grain in bundles
• and a drop system

It is quite amazing that all of this worked off of the power generated through a team of horses.

Here we can see both the part number for the wheel and the trademark. This looks like the International Harvester trademark, IHC superimposed on each other. Hopefully further research in the records will provide us with better information.