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Barrett Exall & Andrewes (Manufacturer)

This is a model of a threshing machine made in 1847 by Barrett, Exall & Andrewes at Katesgrove Iron Works, Reading. The machine itself was likely driven by four horses, and the operator stood on the platform. This model was probably made at the same time as the machine was in production. It is designed to be driven by a small clockwork motor, and cost £32 10s to make.

1 model threshing machine; metal; good condition

Deposited by the Agricultural Machinery Department at Reading University, having been presented to the Department by Reading Museum in 1946., Object research project, Sue Spiller, December 2018 – This is an exact scale model of a threshing machine made in 1847. The machine itself was likely driven by four horses, and the operator stood on the platform. This model was probably made at the same time. It is designed to be driven by a small clockwork motor and was used for demonstration purposes at agricultural shows. The model and it’s full scaled counterpart were built by a local firm Barratt, Exall & Andrewes based in Katesgrove Lane, part of Reading’s historic industrial area. The firm was founded about 1818 by Thomas and Joseph Perry. In around 1840 the firm began to make threshing machines and winnowing machines. The first time one was exhibited at the Royal Show was 1843. Thereafter, these machines became one of the most important parts of the company’s production. At the 1851 Great Exhibition, Barrett, Exall & Andrewes had one of the largest displays of threshing machinery, horse gears and related implements. This model was illustrated in the company’s 1847 trade catalogue: ‘Agricultural Implements, Manufactured by Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes’ at a cost of £48. // Before machines were developed, threshing was done by hand with flails: the hand threshing method was very laborious and time-consuming. The first threshing machine was invented circa 1786 by the Scottish engineer Andrew Meikle, and the subsequent adoption of such machines was one of the earlier examples of the mechanisation of agriculture. During the 19th century, threshers and mechanical reapers gradually became widespread and made grain production much more efficient. However, the introduction and increased use of the threshing machine took the only winter work available away from the farm labourers, without this work many labourers and families faced starvation. This sparked riots and the threshing machines were attacked. ‘The ‘Swing Riots’ of 1830 was a national crisis which engulfed the English countryside and resulted in the imprisonment, transportation and in some cases the execution of those involved. Separate reapers and threshers were largely replaced in the twentieth century by machines that combine all of their functions, known as combine harvesters or combines.

Katesgrove Lane [Reading]

1847-01-01 - 1847-12-31

Threshing machine, Model