Historic Hood River
Three Horsepower Thresher
6-24-2014
Notes
I’m not sure where this was taken, but it’s far too interesting not to share with you. I believe this is a horse powered threshing machine. Using a treadmill as a means to generate power for farm automation goes way back. I wonder who first thought of building one of these for humans and charging them to use it?
charlott
All I can say is this is quite the operation. Someone explain to me how they got the horses up in that thing?
spinsur
WOW! Now that’s a new one on me! Good one Arthur! Are you able to read the labeling on the side of the treadmill box on the original?
Buzz
Why not put the wheels on the back of the treadmill and let the horses pull downhill?
l.e.
Huh????
I wish my dad was still around so I could show this to him. Doesn’t make sense.
Evidently the horse on the far side doesn’t think it makes sense either.
Rawhyde
That’s one heck of a jalopy! Note the two wagon wheels on the ground. I presume this was a stationary rig when in use?
Steve r
Wow- ! Perhaps the folks in Dufer from the Threshing Bee can offer more information ? Dufer – are you out there ? give us a few words please.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IhouMPPQDLo
Looks like a wood ramp or two on the gorund- to aid in getting the horses up.
spinsur
Buzz, I wonder if pulling uphill would be more "natural" to a draft horse; in other words, in the normal world, the load would be coasting downhill against the wheel brake, little effort for the animals. This makes it seem more "real"?
Arthur
Unfortunately the glass negative is not in great focus so I can’t read the text on the apparatus.
This is from the personal collection of one of our museum board members, so maybe he can weigh in on where this might be.
Buzz
Spinsur, my comment was meant to be more facetious than anything. Maybe this rube goldbergesque design was popular at one time, but that would surprise me. But, I have been surprised before.
Arthur
Buzz, I didn’t have any trouble finding pictures of similar devices online. Don’t know if it was common, but it wasn’t rare! Just Google "Horse powered threshing".
Buzz
Yeah, you are right. I have seen numerous pictures of animals walking in circles before, but not pulling uphill.
l.e.
Buzz, this YouTube video is about the best I could find showing the horse being led onto the treadmill and getting it started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHstGIgBu7U
Another example of how much harder it used to be to produce food.
jnel
Hos many horses on there?
db
Looks like three horses. Or at least three muzzles.
Steve r
Then an update to the title is due…. good eyes jnel-
Arthur
OK, I took a close look and agree there are three snouts, not two, so I’ve upgraded the rating to 3HP in the title.
Jeffrey Bryant
The Hood River Glacier, Saturday, September 15, 1894
William Rogers, the photographer, is kept busy nowadays taking pictures in the rural districts. He photographed the threshing crew of Lage & Henrichs while at Henrich’s place, making a good picture, which can be seen at the store of Geo. P. Crowell.
Could this be the photo being written about?