Hay mower for tractor. A History of Hay Equipment: Evolving from Manual Mowing

A History of Hay Equipment: Evolving from Manual Mowing

Warder, Bushnell Glessner Co., Springfield, Ohio, and Chicago, scored a public relations coup when the company persuaded U.S. President Benjamin Harrison (1889-93) to appear in promotional materials. President Harrison is the driver and is as comfortable and as safe on this mower seat and has as complete control of the horses as if he sat in a buggy, reads the caption at the bottom of the image. This lithograph promoted Champion harvesting machinery, including The Improved Champion Mower.

No. 9 McCormick-Deering mowers were very popular in the northern plains states and are a popular working relic for horse enthusiasts.

Patent illustration for Wheeler’s improved mowing machine, originally patented in 1854 and updated in this 1860 patent.

When McCormick and Deering first merged, some of the new company’s implements continued to carry the New Ideal name as well as the International Harvester logo.

A major improvement to mowers in the early 1900s was the enclosed gearbox, like the one on this McCormick-Deering No. 7 mower. See a No. 7 and a John Deere Big 4 in action on Farm Collector’s YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/user/farmcollector. Just click on the first video in the Vintage Mowers playlist.

Today, petroleum-based products are essential to farm operations. But for thousands of years, fodder – specifically, hay – was the most critical form of fuel on the farm. Up to the late 18th century, the process of making hay remained essentially unchanged. By the 1850s, though, the impact of the Industrial Revolution on farming equipment history was unmistakable.

In this article, the first segment of a three-part series on hay equipment (see Part 2 and Part 3), the FOCUS is on mowers. Farmers who still cut hay with sickles or scythes well into the mid-1800s were quick to embrace new technology. One of the most labor-intensive chores a farmer faced, the harvest and storage of hay was hard, hot and dusty work. Mowers were the first step toward making that job less brutal and more productive.

References to cutting and drying grass for fodder are found as far back as Biblical times. Up to the late 18th century, though, the process of manual mowing remained essentially unchanged.

A difficult evolution

Robert L. Ardrey compiled the history of companies and inventors who played key roles in the history of American agriculture in his 1894 book American Agricultural Implements. Ardrey acknowledged that early mower inventors had a difficult time moving away from their attempts to imitate the cutting motion involved in the manual harvest of hay.

“It was this natural primitive movement that the first constructors of both reapers and mowers tried to imitate or reproduce in their machines,” Ardrey wrote. “Early American inventors of mowers persistently endeavored to make practically operative this original principle. Indeed, it was many years before the rotary or scythe-curve theory of cutting was abandoned.”

Peter Gaillard, Lancaster, Pa., is credited with conceiving the idea of mowing grass with horse power in 1812. Several crude reaping machines were produced prior to that time in England, but none proved practical enough to come into general use. In his research, Ardrey found that the early interchangeable use of the words “mow” and “reap” had already made it difficult to clearly identify the origin of the earliest mowers.

“As reapers and mowers belong to the same original general class – harvesters – and have so many features in common,” Ardrey wrote, “it is somewhat difficult at times to draw the line between them. In many of the older patents they are described as machines for reaping and mowing, having been designed for both purposes. And in some specifications they are described first as one and then as the other without distinction of purpose. So one cannot always clearly understand to which division of the general class the inventor intended his machine, or to which it really belonged.”

Jeremiah Bailey, Chester County, Pa., patented a mower (or grass-cutting machine) in February 1822. It was supported by two wheels on different axles and was said capable of mowing 10 acres per day. John Wadsworth, Portsmouth, R.I., obtained a patent in 1824 for a horse scythe. A year later, in 1825, Ezra Cope and Thomas Hoopes Jr., both also of Chester County, applied for a patent on a mowing machine similar to Bailey’s. Their machine was more simply constructed and said to be “of better form.”

By 1831, several inventors had developed mowers using a variety of techniques to cut forage. Those included use of a revolving reel of blades, a rotating knife-edged disc and mechanical scissors. None was completely satisfactory. In 1833, Obed Hussey, Cincinnati, improved upon an 1831 design by William Manning, Plainfield, N.J., creating what would eventually be refined as the sickle bar mower. Hussey’s design principles remained the foundation for subsequent mower development.

Cyrus McCormick and Hussey designed mowers around a sickle bar that bore teeth and moved back and forth horizontally. McCormick’s mower sat on a single broad main wheel that rotated and imparted motion to the cutter bar. Wire fingers (or guards) in front of the blade helped hold brittle stalks upright against the cutter. Horses used to power the machine walked behind or beside the bar. McCormick’s first design put the horses behind the mower, which proved unsatisfactory. His next design put horses alongside the mower.

Hussey’s machine rested on two wheels and a roller and allowed the horses to walk alongside the bar. His design did not include the roller found on McCormick’s model, but Hussey’s mower was more effective. It featured 21 lancet-like teeth riveted to a flat iron rod, and a seat for the driver. McCormick’s mower required the operator to walk alongside.

Market attracts interest

Other early inventors included Enoch Ambler, Root, N.Y.; Abraham Rundell, Verona, N.Y.; and William F. Ketchum, Buffalo, N.Y. Ketchum is credited with being the first man to put the mower successfully on the market (in 1844) as a machine separate from a reaper. In 1847 he improved on his single-wheel mower, gaining the interest of farmers because of the unit’s extreme simplicity and “great possibilities.”

Eliakim Forbush, Buffalo, N.Y., obtained a patent for his mower in 1849. He improved on his machine by 1852 and obtained a new patent, manufacturing his machines in Buffalo. His machine could be bought in combination with a reaper or just as a mower. His invention was quite similar to Ketchum’s; Forbush was forced to discontinue production when Ketchum sued him for infringement.

Cyrenus Wheeler Jr. was another significant early mower designer. His 1854 patent, which included many important new features, established the mower as an implement separate from the reaper. He continued to refine his original 2-wheel, jointed-bar mower for a number of years and was successful in “developing a practical marketable mower,” leading to the formation of the Cayuga Chief system in the 1860s.

Perfecting early mowers

One-wheel rigid-bar mowing machines were in general use in 1855, still sold in combination with a reaper or as a single unit. But many inventors remained focused on perfecting that design. In 1858, Lewis Miller of C. Aultman Co., Canton, Ohio, unveiled his 2-wheel mower, the Buckeye, complete with several new features.

At about the same time, Walter A. Wood Mowing Reaping Machine Co., Hoosick Falls, N.Y., was beginning what would become a prominent business, manufacturing mowers and reapers. Born in New Hampshire, Wood worked with his father at wagon building and plow making. At 21, he made his way to Hoosick Falls, where he was employed in the blacksmithing department of Parsons Wilder.

Within four years, Wood was known as the best workman in the shop. He worked in Tennessee for a time before entering into a partnership known as White Wood. By 1852, he established a new partnership (Wood Parsons) and worked under the rights of patents obtained by John H. Manny of Illinois. Parsons left the company a year later and Wood continued on his own. In succeeding years he developed several models of enclosed gear mowers and numerous reapers.

The company launched by Cyrus H. McCormick of Virginia didn’t impact the mower industry until 1908. In 1834 McCormick applied for his first reaper patent. The patent application included his description of the machine’s vibrating blade that cut the grain. “I particularly claim the cutting by the means of a vibrating blade, operated by a crank, having the edge either smooth or with teeth,” McCormick wrote, “and projecting before it, for the purpose of staying or supporting the grain whilst cutting.”

William Deering, who amassed a fortune through a dry goods business, was seeking new opportunities in 1870. An old acquaintance, Elijah H. Gammon, convinced Deering to invest in his harvester manufacturing business. By 1872, he became a full partner in the company. In 1880, Deering bought Gammon’s share of the business.

In 1885, Deering began producing a line of mowers. Between 1893 and 1911, the company produced the Ideal Plain Lift, Ideal Giant, Ideal Vertical Lift, Ideal 1-Horse Plain Lift and Ideal 1-Horse Vertical Lift. Between 1886 and 1915, McCormick marketed the New 4 Mower, New Big 4 Mower and Vertical Lift Mower.

The International influenceInternational Harvester Co. was formed Aug. 12, 1902, when McCormick Harvesting Machine Co., Deering Harvester Co., Plano Harvester Co., Milwaukee Harvester Co. and Warder, Bushnell Glessner Co. merged. The new company was capitalized at 120 million. Cyrus H. McCormick Jr. was named president of the board and Charles Deering was named chairman.

In 1911, International Harvester began producing implements such as mowers, tedders, rakes and fertilizer distributors under the McCormick name. The McCormick-Deering line of mowers included the No. 6 Plain Mower, No. 6 Vertical Lift Mower and Big 6 Mower. In succeeding years the company produced the McCormick-Deering No. 6 Plain Lift Mower, No. 7 Regular Lift, No. 7 Vertical Lift, Big 7 Regular Lift, Big Trailing – Regular Lift, and the No. 9 mower (also known as the McCormick-Deering Enclosed Steel Gear Mower). From 1939 to 1946, the company offered a regular size and heavy size No. 9 mower.

The No. 9 mower was advertised as designed to “take less power to pull and last a lifetime.” The gears were faster so the sickle ran faster, but more power was required to pull the machine. In addition to the Deering and McCormick lines, the company also offered the Little Vertical Mower, New 1-Horse Plain Lift Mower and New 1-Horse Vertical Lift Mower.

Closed gears were a big improvement in mower design. Because the gears run continuously in oil, dirt can’t cause undue wear or damage to the gear and bearings. McCormick-Deering’s No. 9 mowers were very popular in the Midwest. Some models came with trucks, which lifted the weight of the mower off the horse.

Mowers remained essentially the same until tractors began replacing horses in the 1930s. A popular enhancement of the day was the mower’s response to an obstruction during mowing. “The bar swung back, the power shaft telescoped and the clutch automatically disengaged and stopped the sickle,” notes Ronald Stokes Barlow in 300 Years of Farm Implements and Machinery 1630-1930.

As mowers came into increasingly common use, the time-honored practice of raking hay by hand was abandoned. The advance of technology would soon mechanize nearly every aspect of agriculture and transform the face of the American farm. Continue reading: “Part 2: Rake Development Spurred by Mower Technology” and “Part 3: Hay Press Helped Farmers Meet Market Demands.” FC

Loretta Sorensen is a lifelong resident of southeast South Dakota. She and her husband farm with Belgian draft horses and collect vintage farm equipment. E-mail her atsorensenlms@gmail.com.

Click here to see a McCormick-Deering No. 7 and a John Deere Big 4 mower in action on YouTube. You can also find the video by visiting Farm Collector‘s video index, clicking on the Featured in Farm Collector playlist and choosing “First Time on the Mower for this Young Team.”

F310R Front Mount Mower-Conditioner

8R Tractor front hitch

• Side-pull mower-conditioner
• Center-pivot mower-conditioner
• Twin rear-mounted mower-conditioner

Unmatched productivity is gained with cutting widths up to 9.9 m (32.5 ft) in one pass along with a narrow transport width.

The A-frame adapter enables quick and easy installation of the F310R or F350R Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioners. The adapter attaches to the tractor’s front 3-point hitch and locks into the mating headstock that is part of the mower-conditioner.

• Enables easy attaching/detaching of front-mounted mower-conditioner
• Mounting position of headstock is adjustable to assure proper clearance for the forming shields

Down stop chains are include for use with tractors, such as the 8R, without front hitch position sensing. A front chain support kit (RE327692) is required to connect the down stop chains on an 8R Tractor.

The 7R Tractors are equipped with position sensing that has the ability to establish front hitch set points from the CommandCenter™ controls. Position sensing will maintain the height of the hitch arms based on the set point.

The front chain support kit (RE327692) is not required for 7R Tractors, but damage to the front PTO driveshaft can occur if the front hitch positioning is not set correctly, or if the set point is manually overridden.

Hydraulic cylinders are used to raise and lower the cutting platform when crossing headlands.

• Front tractor hitch is not used to raise and lower the cutting platform
• Uses single-acting selective control valve (SCV) to raise platform.
• Lift cylinder operation must be independent of the front hitch operation.

The 3.5-m (11.5-ft) wide cutterbar

Quick-change knives (QCK) technology

• The cutterbars are fast mowing, with high quality work and reliable set-up.
• Each disc is protected against heavy shocks with a shear point located on the disc drive.
• All modules and intermediate gears are quickly and easily interchangeable.

To meet high quality output, the cutterbar is an oil-immersed, gear-driven cutting bed.

• All discs are offering an orbital cutting diameter of 440 mm (17.3 in.).
• With seven discs, the cutting width will be 3.1 m (10.2 ft). With eight discs, the cutting width will be 3.5 m (11.5 ft).
• Disc speeds are 2986 rpm.

To meet serviceability, the cutting bed is lubricated for life:

• No oil changes necessary.
• Discs are fitted with quick change knives technology.
• Cutting height is from 35 to 85 mm (1.4 to 3.3 in.).

Time needed to change a knife is below 15 seconds. It is an efficient way to gain up to 30 minutes of maintenance time on the mower conditioners.

Turnbuckle adjustment

Cutting height is adjusted by changing the turnbuckle on the front hitch. Cutting range is from 35 mm to 85 mm (1.4 in. to 3.3 in.).

Impeller Style Conditioning

Pivoting steel fingers for perfect conditioning in all crops

• The steel fingers provide the right impact on the plant to remove the waxy coat.
• The R870R is equipped with four V-shaped tines in on both sides of the conditioner and 76 straights.
• The R950R and R990R are equipped with four V-shaped tines in on both sides of the conditioner and 100 straights.
• This accelerates the drying process while requiring little maintenance.
• Two conditioning positions are available at 755 or 1000 rpm.
• Speed change is done by a simple selector on the gear box.

The desired swath size can easily be obtained with adjustable swath deflectors:

• From 1.2 to 2.0 m (3.9 ft-6.6 ft) on the F310R and F350R
• From 1.45 to 2.40 m (4.7 to 7.9 ft) on the R870R
• From 1.85 to 2.40 m (6.1 to 7.9 ft) on the R950R and R990R
• Wide spread is available on all machines when very fast drying is required

Proper conditioning in a wide range of crops can be achieved when the conditioner is properly adjusted.

The impeller conditioner works well in legumes, especially alfalfa and most all-grass crops. Impeller conditioners are not recommended for thick-stemmed or cane-type crops, such as sudan or sudex, or crops more than 1.5-m (5-ft) tall.

How an impeller conditioner works:

Impeller conditioning

• As hay is cut by rotating knives, tines (2) pick up the plants and carry them through the machine. Tines are free swinging to reduce damage to the conditioner if rocks or other solid objects are struck.
• As the plant passes through, it rubs against the conditioning hood (1) and other plants. Scuffing action removes the waxy surface from the stem of the plant to allow faster evaporation of moisture.
• The pivot point for the conditioning hood is also adjustable to provide a wider range of conditioning intensity.

Adjusting impeller speed

The speed at which the tines rotate will also affect the degree of conditioning. Two impeller speeds can be achieved by simply moving the lever from 755 to 1000 rpm.

Square Flex Conditioning

Square Flex conditioning rolls are ideal for alfalfa, but also for heavy forage like sorghum or grasses such as oats or sudan grass. The large diameter (24 cm) provides a good throughput capacity and ensures a smooth material flow without material sticking to the rolls.

Conditioning pressure can be adjusted up to 336 lb/ft by rotating a central adjusting screw placed on the torsion bars. This provides a wide range for conditioning pressure

The double animated rolls are directly driven by maintenance free double transmissions. This allows for synchronization between the two rolls to never need adjustment.

Square Flex conditioning rolls are only available on the F350R, and the R990R.

Windrow to match needs

The available room for a windrow is a function of wheel spacing and tire width. The windrow width of the F310R and F350R Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioners may be narrower than the windrows from a twin rear-mounted mower-conditioner if the forming shields are adjusted so the tractor does not drive on the windrow that is produced.

Front-mounted mower-conditioner windrow formation

Adjustable forming shields

Front mower-conditioner adjustment

The desired swath width can easily be obtained by loosening the handle on each side and moving the adjustable swath deflectors to the desired position. Swath width is adjustable from 1.2 to 2.4 m (3.9 to 7.9 ft) on the F310R and F350R Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioners.

Rear-mount mower-conditioner windrow formation

Windrow forming shields (rear curtain raised for visibility)

Adjustment handle

Forming shields are easily adjusted to control material flow. This allows the operator to match the windrow width to harvesting requirements.

The forming shields are easily adjusted to match harvest requirements. No tools are required to adjust the forming shields. Windrow width for the R870R, R950R, and R990R on each unit can be adjusted from 1.3 to 3.2 m (4.3 ft. to 10.5 ft).

New generation of Fendt mowers and Fendt hay rakes

Fendt introduced the Fendt Slicer and Fendt Former rakes for the first time in 2017, and continued to expand its range with various mowers and hay rakes in the years that followed. Fendt now introduces the next generation of Fendt Slicer front mower with new mowing combinations, new design and new options. The Fendt Former hay rake gets an upgrade.

The Fendt Slicer disc mowers series includes the Fendt Slicer 310 F, 310 F KC front mower with tine conditioner, and the 310 F RC with roller conditioner. The 310 stands for a working width of 3.10 metres. Then we have the Fendt Slicer 860 and 960 rear mowers with a working width of 8.60 metres and 9.60 metres in configurations without conditioner. There are two bolts to position the rear mowers further inside or outside to achieve the perfect overlap with the front mower. The rear mower can be combined with different front mowers with a working width of between 3 metres and 3.50 metres.

Both the new generation of front disc mowers and the rear disc mowers have been completely redeveloped. Thanks to the lightweight design, the Fendt Slicer 310 F saves up to 60 kilograms in weight compared to the predecessor model. In the case of the rear mower combination, the new design can save up to 350 kilograms in weight compared with the predecessor model.

The low weight reduces power requirements, while also lowering ground pressure and saving fuel.

Precision work with the Fendt Slicer 310 F

The Fendt Slicer 310 F front mower with swing hitch and low centre of gravity is designed for cropped terrain and work on slopes. The swing hitch has a range of /- 7.5° to adapt perfectly to the ground. Hydraulic load relief is available as an option for the Fendt Slicer 310 F KC (with tine conditioner) and the Fendt Slicer 310 F RC (with roller conditioner). This regulates the contact pressure for the entire mower unit and means less dirt can get into the mechanism in wet harvest conditions.

Safer on the road

The Fendt Slicer 310 F front mower comes with an optional hydraulic folding system for the side guard. Fold up the side guard before getting on the road, without having to leave the cab. To increase safety at confusing exits or junctions, the front mower can come pre-equipped ex works to have mirrors installed. Optionally a preparation for the installation of cameras is also available. This readies the implement for future safety requirements. A lever is used to easily lock the front guard in various positions. The access for quick knife changes and maintenance work is facilitated. For safe use on the field, the Fendt Slicer 310 F front mower has a plastic impact bar to prevent damage in the event of minor collisions.

The Fendt Slicer 860 and 960 rear mowers also dispose of a new generation of the Fendt SafetySwing mechanical collision safety system. This prevents any serious damage being caused by drain covers or stones.

Flexible conditioning

Depending on the harvest and weather conditions, you can adjust the intensity of the conditioners on the Fendt Slicer front mower unit. The tine conditioner has five settings while the roller conditioner can be infinitely adjusted with the pre-tensioning spring. This ensures the best wilting results and in turn the highest feed quality.

The cutting height can be flexibly adjusted on the upper link itself, which makes it easier to work with.

Reliable and fuel-efficient

Both the Fendt Slicer 310 F and the Fendt Slicer 860 and 960 rear mowers have a blade box for spare knives and a blade quick-change key. You can replace your knives out on the field to reduce downtime and maintenance work. The key holds the mower open, so you can use both hands to change the blade. It makes changing knives a safer job.

To save fuel, you can work at a reduced speed of 850 rpm with the same results. You can increase the speed any time you need to, which is kinder to the environment and saves on resources.

Fendt Former – Up and down by hydraulics

The latest generation of Fendt Former 12545 and the ISOBUS-capable Fendt Former 12545 PRO now feature a hydraulically lowering chassis. This gives the Fendt Former a transport height of less than 4 m even in transport mode, and you don’t need to remove the tines before setting out on the road.

Forage harvesting technology machines are characterized by many years of use with high exposure to direct sunlight. For this reason, the Fendt Former rakes have a new coloring concept and machine design. This is accompanied by extensive changes in the assembly, painting and shipping preparation at the Feucht site, as well as new quality gates. For example, a new coating process is used which, among other things, increases the UV resistance of the coating. This maintains the color brilliance even in strong sunlight and over long periods of use.

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