24 June 2013

33-horsepower combine, 1902

"Evolution of the sickle and flail, 33-horse team combined harvester, Walla Walla, Washington."
From Wikimedia Commons, via Retronaut [sepia tone removed by me]

6 comments:

  1. Is there a reason the horses are divided into mostly white and black teams? Perhaps the farmer is sharing teams with another who had mostly white/black horses while he had the other?

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    Replies
    1. Teamsters take pride in having matched pairs.

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  2. A print of that, and other historical photos, is on one of the ferries that I take frequently across Puget Sound. Each boat has a different set relating to the name of the boat. This is on (of course) the "Walla Walla".

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  3. My mind. Are they going down and then up a hill? Are they curving? Is the picture just warped?! Haha

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    Replies
    1. I think it must be hilly terrain, which would be the reason for harnessing so many draft animals to one harvester.

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  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6zDCLcia6w&feature=player_embedded

    Here's a local guy driving 46 horses.

    Obviously, more horses = more pulling power, so in heavy soil, or with heavy or large equipment or difficult terrain, more horses would be needed. Driving that many horses is not an easy feat.

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