1872 - STALK CUTTER

This is from an extremely rare and very large (nearly poster sized) 1892 steel engraved print illustrating developments over time in the history of hemp and flax harvesters. The engraving was done by Sackett & Wilhelms of New York. The engraving was taken from a very rare volume published in 1892 by The Commissioner of Patents and titled "The Growth of Industrial Art."

TEXT ON THIS POSTER INCLUDES:

Hemp and flax harvesters are reaping machines resembling those for corn in their adaption to operate upon tall top-heavy stalks, and differ from them in cutting low. One form is a puller, which grasps the stalks near the ground and uproots them. Another variety is one with a low platform on wheels, with a cutter bar in front, a reel to gather the stalks to the knives and direct them over into a cradle where they are collected in a bunch. In another form the stalks are caught by an arm till a shock is collected.

The stalk puller consists of a pair of revolving disks on axes, set at an obtuse angle with each other, so as to grip the stalks, which are conducted between them at the lowest part of their revolution, and then open as they rotate, and allow the stalks to fall into a cradle on the ground.

36 Patents Granted by the United States including all scans from this poster except for the grass hook.