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This is a small model of a barn threshing machine, built by the donor for his son some time before 1946. It is built on a scale of 1 inch = 1 foot. It is a model of a full-size barn threshing machine which belonged to the donor in Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall. He thought that it was probably 'made by local craftsmen rather than by a factory... Neighbouring farmers who have seen it say they have not seen any others like it'. He used it to thresh a small amount of corn each year, driving the machine with a British Anzani 'Iron Horse' tractor. The corn still had to be winnowed after as the machine had no sieves.

1 model threshing machine; wood; good condition

Letter, A. W. B. Prowse to J. Higgs, 21 June 1952 - 'Dear Mr Higgs, // I am sending you on Monday a small model of the little threshing machine about which I have written to you. // I originally made this for my son, who has now rather outgrown it, but it is a carefully made model on a scale of 1 inch = 1 foot. The only particular detail in which it does not follow the original is that the bottom rail each side ought to be tenoned right through each leg & the legs should be tenoned into the top rails. // The two pairs of nuts at the back of the machine adjust the grid from back to front & the two threaded rods underneath at the front adjust it up & down in relation to the drum. The sheaves are fed into the drum through the open back of the hood; the best corn drops through the grid underneath & the chaff blows out through the open top of the hood. The straw (and much corn too!) blows out underneath at the front. // The drum is constructed exactly like the original. // I thought the model would be of more interest to you than a drawing. I only hope to goodness that it arrives safely. // Yours sincerely, // A.W.B. Prowse // Barn Threshing Machine // Scale 1” = 1’ // When looking on the OUTER side of the machine the drum rotates in a CLOCKWISE direction.', Letter, A. W. B. Prowse to J. Higgs, 6 April 1952 - 'Thank you very much for your letter of 27th March. // I am glad my little threshing machine interests you. I shall be only too pleased to let you have a drawing; it will take a little time to prepare this in between my work, but I will do it as soon as I can. // I’m not sure if I can manage a photo of it as it is rather tucked away in a small shed but I will see what can be done. // Yours sincerely // A.W.B. Prowse', Letter, A.W.B. Prowse to MERL, 16 March 1952 - 'Dear Sir, // I have just read in our local paper, “Lostwithiel & Fowey Guardian”, an account of a lecture given in Newquay last week in which it was stated that you have no exhibits from Cornwall. // In case it might be of interest to you I would mention that I have in use a very small type of “barn threshing machine” of which I could make a scale drawing if it would be of any use. // I do not know anything about it except that I bought it from Bake Farm in Pelynt Parish very near here. // It is certainly old & gives an impression of having been made by local craftsmen rather than by a factory. The thread of certain bolts are old, not Whitworth. // Neighbouring farmers who have seen it say they have not seen any others like it. // I understand that in the old days many farms had threshing machines built inside the barn & run by some form of steam engine. // This one of mine I use each year for my small quantity of corn, driving it with my British Anzani “Iron Horse” tractor, and find it is quite satisfactory. It consists solely of the drum with an adjustable grid against which it beats out the grain. There are no sieves at all so it has to be winnowed afterwards. // Yours faithfully, // A.W.B. Prowse'

Lanteglos-by-Fowey

1946

Threshing machine, Model