McCormick Invented Reaper 150 Tears Ago
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When Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern in 1871,
the Great Chicago Fire demolished the McCormick Reaper Works.
Undaunted, McCormick rebuilt a new works outside the city.
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A wire binder was developed in 1874. This machine tied bundles
with bands of wire, eliminating the band binders who had ridden the
March-type harvester, invented by C. W. and W. W. Marsh of DeKalb,
Illinois.
Pictured are excerpts of the patent grant from the U.S. Patent
Office to Cyrus Hall McCormick for his reaper, patented June 21,
1S34. Shown at left is drawing of reaper. Closing paragraphs of
patent recite McCormick's claim for the arrangement of several
parts to constitute his reaper, the method of cutting by means of a
vibrating blade, and the method of gathering and bringing the grain
back to the cutter and delivering it on the apron or platform by
means of a reel, movable to any height to suit the grain, and the
platform to hold the grain until collected for a sheaf.
The forge shop on the McCormick farm in Walnut Grove, Rockbridge
County, Virginia, as it appeared when Cyrus Hall McCormick invented
the reaper. The reaper in its early stage can be seen in the
foreground. The forge shop, which still stands, has been designated
a registered national historic landmark by the U.S. Department of
Interior.
The wire binder was followed in 1881 by a machine which used
twine to tie the grain.
McCormick, an advocate of world marketing, lived to see his
products in all civilized regions. He died May 13, 1884.
The partnership had been dissolved in 1879, succeeded by a
corporation headed by McCormick. His son Cyrus succeeded him,
continuing growth.
In 1902 a merger took place which brought the International
Harvester Company into being. Companies taking part with McCormick
were Deering Harvester Company, founded in Piano, Illinois; by
William Deering and located in Chicago by 1880; Piano Manufacturing
Company, Milwaukee, (Wis.) Harvester Company, and Warder, Bushnell
and Blessner, of Springfield, Ohio.
The workshop-grist mill area of the McCormick farm has been
designated a national historical landmark by the National Park
Service of the U.S. Department of Interior. It is visited by many
tourists annually, and this year will probably draw its biggest
visitation ever.
A similar landmark honor has been conferred on the site by the
American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
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