Object number
87/22
Description
A pedal-driven threshing machine, of the type popular on small farms in Scotland and British colonies worldwide. The sheaves of wheat are pushed in one at a time at the top of the machine, and the straw comes out at the opposite end while the grain and chaff pass through a metal screen under the drum and onto the ground. This machine dates from circa 1890–1900.
Physical description
1 pedal-driven threshing machine: good condition
Label Text
10. Pedal-driven threshing machine, c.1890-1900. By the turn of the twentieth century steam-driven threshing machines were a familiar sight on many farms. Apart from minor refinements, there was little that could be improved upon in terms of design and efficiency. It was only with the introduction in Britain of combine harvesters in the 1930s that threshing experienced its next technological revolution. These were machines which harvested and threshed the crop in one action, and, by the 1950s, self-propelled combines had made threshing machines all but redundant, used today solely for producing quality straw for thatching. However, farming has maintained an uncanny ability to accommodate both old and new. Small, pedal-driven threshing machines like this one were still being produced towards the end of the nineteenth century when large-scale steam threshing was at its height. Such machines were popular on small farms in Scotland and in British colonies around the world, providing a vital means of self-sufficiency for families making their own bread who would have had no need for heavy duty threshing tackle. Its design is basic. Once the wheat is cut and put into sheaves it is fed into this machine where a spiked drum beats the grain from the stalk. This particular example was used as part of 'The Great Harvest' international exhibition in Paris in June 1990, a highlight of which was a 1.8 hectare wheat field laid down on the Champs-Elysees. Fourteen threshing teams from around the world demonstrated the processes involved in harvesting wheat, and it was on this machine that the British team demonstrated corn threshing. 87/22.
Archival history
This threshing machine was loaned by the Museum for use in 'La Grande Moisson' ('The Great Harvest') in Paris in June 1990. This was an exhibition based on the theme 'Crafts of the Land' - one of the highlights being a 1.8 hectare wheat field laid down the Champs-Elysees., MERL ‘Handwritten accession’ form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Standard museum name: THRESHING MACHINE // Accession number: 87/22 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 9.9.87 // Description: PEDAL DRIVEN THRESHING MACHINE // Consists of a wooden frame with a metal drum which has rows of spikes. These mesh with other spikes at the mouth of the machine where the sheaves are pushed in one at a time. The machine can be driven by means of a handle (not present) or two wooden pedals which turn a flywheel which meshes with a small wheel which then turns the drum. There is an adjustable seat at one end for the operator to sit on. The straw would come out at the opposite end and the grain and chaff pass through a metal screen under the drum onto the ground. // Dimensions: (written in associated information) Height: 122.0 cm // Length: 143.0 cm // Width: 48.0 cm // Diameter of flywheel: 81.0 cm. // Associated information: See photoprints in MERL photo library from Mr H. Fry, Netherton Farm, Closworth, Yeovil, Somerset. // References: TR RAN PI/B 1&2 details of small horse driven threshing machines // IMR June 1st 1882 and August 1 1895’
Production date
1890-01-01
Object name
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\87_22_doc_01.tif - High resolution image
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- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\87_22_doc_10.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\Documents\Scans\87_22_doc_11.tif - High resolution image
