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HomeMy WebLinkAbout31st Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association 1992 Reunion, 1992-09-09, Page 20PAGE A-20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992. Monster machines once apex of technology full of water and stoke it with wood. The second man looked after the separator, and the third man would act as tankman and had to be able to handle a big team of horses. Threshing Bees Threshing was still a laborious task, but with the invention of the steam engine, it was a task that took considerably less time. While the task of threshing was a hard one, it also provided neighbours with the opportunity to get together and visit. Groups of men would team up to help make the job go faster, while the wives prepared the meals. The Thresher Reunion gives people a chance to set their hands to the job of threshing during the demonstrations and relive a part of that past. To look at the bulk of a steam engine and to hear the formidable noises one can make, a person can realize just how far farming technology has come in the past century. But at one point these monster machines were the apex of technology and farmers felt blessed in how simple threshing had become. Threshing is the act of separating grain seeds from straw. Before the steam engines came along, everything had to be done by hand. Threshing was first done by trampling the cut sheaves with oxen or by hand pounding the grain with flails. Before the tree stumps had been removed from the fields, the grain was cut from between them with scythes or cradles which would leave the grain cut in a windrow. The grain was then gathered in sheaves by hand and bound with a knotted handful of straight stalks of grain. When the stumps had later been removed, reapers pulled by horses were used. The reaper left grain in bunches which had to be bound by hand into sheaves and stooked by Welcome to Blyth Congratulations to the Pioneer Thresher Association on their 31st Reunion John, Bev, Rick & Anne Elliott, Barb, Lisa, Steacey, Jackie & Betsy JEJLMOTT INSURANCE BROKERS.limited hand in long stooks of ten or twelve sheaves and left to dry. The dry stooks were brought into the bam into mows. One or two men pitched the sheaves onto the wagon to a man whose job it was to drive the horses and to build the loads. Some well-trained teams would obey commands to go and stop while the man on the wagon built the load. When the new steam-powered machines were put into use, threshing only took a matter of minutes instead of the hours it previously took. By 1890 the big heavy machinery was very popular. A threshing outfit consisted of a steam engine, a grain separator, and a water tank which was a large, enclosed wooden tank on a wagon. The tank was filled with water from the farmer's well, or a creek, or river. For a few years, all three pieces were drawn by horse. By 1900 the steam engine pulled the separator from farm to farm and horses pulled the water tank. Three men went with each outfit. One would operate the steam engine and keep it GENERAL Rick Elliott 519-523-9725 UFE R. John Elliott 519-523-4323 Established 1910 BLYTH, ONTARIO NOM 1H0 519-523-4481 4 GENERATIONS SINCE 1910 /Christmas \ . C5COUNTRY Flowers & Gifts Vj\ \ 523-4820 WELCOME THRESHERS! Come join us for our NO TAX WEEKEND SALE 2 days only! Fri. Sept. 11 & Sat. Sept 12 Just imagine 15% off all regular price merchandise, storewide. We will pay the taxes for you! PLUS THESE EXTRA SPECIALS 7 piece beige WICKER SETTEE SET reg. $450.00 This weekend only $325.00 includes cushions We will be serving 3 Ideflota fresh, hot cider, chips & dip too! Remember - We're your full service florist- fresh flowers daily.